Single predictor of residual right-to-left shunt to optimally select patients for suture-mediated percutaneous patent fossa ovalis closure

Background

In patients with patent fossa ovalis (PFO) and paradoxical embolism, percutaneous closure of the interatrial communication has been proven more effective than medical treatment only to reduce recurrent thromboembolic events. Percutaneous suture-mediated PFO closure has been proved to be a safe and advantageous alternative to device-based PFO closure, yet its overall success rate is slightly lower in unselected patients. Hence, it is extremely important to define baseline features associated with unsatisfactory results to appropriately select patients suitable for this technique.

Purpose

Systematic assessment of PFO anatomy in the largest series of consecutive patients undergoing suture-mediated percutaneous PFO closure to identify a single baseline predictor of significant residual right-to-left shunt (procedural failure) for optimal selection of patient to be submitted to this procedure.

Methods

Pre-procedural transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) of 302 consecutive patients (113 men, 45±12 years) who underwent percutaneous suture-mediated PFO closure at a single institution were accurately reviewed to assess a series of parameters: presence and grade of spontaneous right-to-left shunt (RLS), PFO length and width, presence of atrial septal aneurysm and its maximal bulge, and presence of an embryonic or fetal remnant (Chiari network or Eustachian valve).

Results

At echocardiographic follow-up (3–6 months from the closure procedure), a residual RLS ≥2 was found in 60 (19.9%) patients. At multivariable analysis, only two anatomical variables measured at pre-procedural TEE were found as independent predictors of residual RLS ≥2 at follow-up: PFO maximum width (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.16–3.40, p=0.019) and PFO minimum length (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35–0.88, p=0.018). An index based on the ratio of PFO maximum width to PFO minimum septal overlapping (W/SO) was found to be the most powerful predictor of RLS ≥2 at follow-up (OR 48.1, 95% CI 9.3–352.2, p<0.001). The ROC curve for the W/SO ratio was found to have an AUC of 0.84 (95% CI 0.75–0.93) and a cut-off value of 0.61 yielding a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 78% with a negative predictive value of 94%.

Conclusions

Baseline pre-procedural TEE assessment provides essential information for the selection of patients most suitable to undergo suture-mediated PFO closure. Our results indicate that the ratio between the maximum amplitude of the PFO and the minimum overlap of the septa is the optimal single baseline index to optimally select patient for an effective percutaneous PFO closure.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Impact of environmental pollution and weather changes on the incidence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Background

Environmental pollution and weather changes unfavorably impact on cardiovascular disease. However, limited research has focused on ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most severe yet distinctive form of acute coronary syndrome.

Methods and results

We appraised the impact of environmental and weather changes on the incidence of STEMI, analysing the bivariate and multivariable association between several environmental and atmospheric parameters and the daily incidence of STEMI in two large Italian urban areas. Specifically, we appraised: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric oxide (NOX), ozone, particulate matter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) and than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity and rainfall. A total of 4285 days at risk were appraised, with 3473 cases of STEMI. Specifically, no STEMI occurred in 1920 (44.8%) days, whereas one or more occurred in the remaining 2365 (55.2%) days. Multilevel modelling identified several pollution and weather predictors of STEMI. In particular, concentrations of CO ( p=0.024), NOX ( p=0.039), ozone ( p=0.003), PM10 ( p=0.033) and PM2.5 ( p=0.042) predicted STEMI as early as three days before the event, as well as subsequently, and NO predicted STEMI one day before ( p = 0.010), as well as on the same day. A similar predictive role was evident for temperature and atmospheric pressure (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The risk of STEMI is strongly associated with pollution and weather features. While causation cannot yet be proven, environmental and weather changes could be exploited to predict STEMI risk in the following days.

Cocaine and coronary artery diseases: a systematic review of the literature

Cocaine is associated with important cardiac complications such as sudden death, acute myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, life-threatening arrhythmias, and myocardial ischemia as well as infarction. It is well known that cocaine may induce vasospasm through adrenergic stimulation of the coronary arteries. Moreover, cocaine may promote intracoronary thrombosis, triggered by alterations in the plasma constituents, and platelet aggregation, leading to subsequent myocardial infarction. The long-term use of cocaine may stimulate atherosclerosis, probably through endothelial cell dysfunction. Significant and severe coronary atherosclerosis is common in young chronic cocaine users and there is probably a relationship between the duration and frequency of cocaine use and the extent of coronary disease.

Antiplatelet Therapy in Hemodialysis Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Context:

Coronary artery disease is highly prevalent among patients with end stage renal disease/hemodialysis (ESRD/HD) and coronary percutaneous interventions (PCI) has been increased by nearly 50% over the past decade. After PCI with stent placement, guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), but no specifically tailored pharmacotherapy approach is outlined for this frail population, mostly excluded from large randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Evidence Acquisition:

We reviewed current evidences on the use of antiplatelet therapy in patients with ESRD/HD undergoing PCI, focusing on the efficacy and safety of specific agents and their indications for detailed clinical settings.

Results:

Clinical setting in HD patients is the principal determinant of the type, onset, combination and duration of the DAPT. However, irrespective clinical setting, in addition to aspirin, clopidogrel is currently the most used antiplatelet agent even if no information derived from RCTs are available in ESRD. Due to the large experience acquired in routine clinical practice, the awareness of safety is higher for clopidogrel than newer antiplatelet agents. Because of lack of data, the use of prasugrel and ticagrelor is actually not recommended. However, in case of high ischemic and acceptable bleeding risk, they may be selectively used in ESRD/HD.

Conclusions:

This investigation might contribute to delineate the best treatment options for this high risk population.