The impact of peripheral arterial disease on patients with mechanical circulatory support.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are indicated as bridging or destination therapy for patients with advanced (Stage D) heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Due to the clustering of the mutual risk factors, HFrEF patients have a high prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This, along with the fact that continuous flow LVAD influence shear stress on the vasculature, can further deteriorate the PAD. Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2002-2014) to identify the burden of pre-existing PAD cases, its association with LVAD, in-hospital mortality, and other complications of LVAD. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. Results: A total of 20,817 LVAD patients, comprising of 1,625 (7.8%) PAD and 19,192 (91.2%) non-PAD patients were included in the study. The odds of in-hospital mortality in PAD patients were significantly higher compared to non-PAD group (OR 1.29, CI, 1.07-1.55, P = 0.007). The PAD group had significantly higher adjusted odds as compared to non-PAD group for acute myocardial infarction (aOR 1.29; 95% CI, 1.07-1.55, P = 0.007), major bleeding requiring transfusion (aOR, 1.286; 95% CI, 1.136-1.456, P \u3c 0.001), vascular complications (aOR, 2.360; 95% CI, 1.781-3.126, P \u3c 0.001), surgical wound infections (aOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.17-1.94, P = 0.002), thromboembolic complications (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.36-2.10, P \u3c 0.001), implant-related complications (aOR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.19-1.80, P \u3c 0.001), and acute renal failure (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.12-1.43, P \u3c 0.001). Conclusion: PAD patients can have high LVAD associated mortality as compared to non-PAD

Outcomes of nonemergent percutaneous coronary intervention requiring mechanical circulatory support in patients without cardiogenic shock

BACKGROUND: The utilization of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using percutaneous ventricular assist device (PVAD) or intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been increasing. We sought to evaluate the outcome of coronary intervention using PVAD compared with IABP in noncardiogenic shock and nonacute myocardial infarction patients. METHOD: Using the National Inpatient Sampling (NIS) database from 2005 to 2014, we identified patients who underwent PCI using ICD 9 codes. Patients with cardiogenic shock, acute coronary syndrome, or acute myocardial infarction were excluded. Patient was stratified based on the MCS used, either to PVAD or IABP. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to study PCI outcome using PVAD compared with IABP. RESULTS: Out of 21,848 patients who underwent PCI requiring MCS, 17,270 (79.0%) patients received IABP and 4,578 (21%) patients received PVAD. PVAD patients were older (69 vs. 67, p \u3c .001), were less likely to be women (23.3% vs. 33.3%, p \u3c .001), and had higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia prior PCI, prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery, anemia, chronic lung disease, liver disease, renal failure, and peripheral vascular disease compared with IABP group (p ≤ .007). Using Multivariate logistic regression, PVAD patients had lower in-hospital mortality (6.1% vs. 8.8%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.62; 95% CI 0.51, 0.77, p \u3c .001), vascular complications (4.3% vs. 7.5%, aOR 0.78; 95% CI 0.62, 0.99, p = .046), cardiac complications (5.6% vs. 14.5%, aOR 0.29; 95% CI 0.24, 0.36, p \u3c .001), and respiratory complications (3.8% vs. 9.8%, aOR 0.37; 95% CI 0.28, 0.48, p \u3c .001) compared with patients who received IABP. CONCLUSION: Despite higher comorbidities, nonemergent PCI procedures using PVAD were associated with lower mortality compared with IABP

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: national trends and in-hospital outcomes

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is considered the most common congenital heart disease and the main etiology of aortic valve stenosis (AS) in young adults. Although transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is routinely used in high- and intermediate-risk patients with AS, BAV patients with AS were excluded from all pivotal trials that led to TAVR approval. We sought, therefore, to examine in-hospital outcomes of patients with BAV who underwent TAVR in comparison with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample from 2011 to 2014, we identified patients with BAV with International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision-CM code 746.4. Patients who underwent TAVR were identified using ICD-9 codes 35.05 and 35.06 and those who underwent SAVR were identified using codes 35.21 and 35.22 during the same period. Results: A total of 37,052 patients were found to have BAV stenosis. Among them, 36,629 patients (98.8%) underwent SAVR, whereas 423 patients (1.14%) underwent TAVR. One-third of enrolled patients were female, and the majority of the patients were White with a mean age of 65.9 ± 15.1 years. TAVR use for BAV stenosis significantly increased from 0.39% in 2011 to 4.16% in 2014 (P < 0.001), which represents a 3.77% overall growth in procedure rate. The median length of stay decreased significantly throughout the study period (mean 12.2 ± 8.2 days to 7.1 ± 5.9 days, P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between SAVR and TAVR groups in the in-hospital mortality (0% vs. 5.9%; adjusted P = 0.119). Conclusion: There is a steady increase in TAVR use for BAV stenosis patients along with a significant decrease in length of stay

Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy as a Potential Cause of Bilateral Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke - a Rare and Unique Clinical Occurrence

BACKGROUND Bilateral posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusions are exceedingly rare, and are considered a devastating phenomenon that presents as cortical blindness. Predominant causes of PCA infarcts include cardiac and arterial embolisms. Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) cardiomyopathy is also an extremely rare cardiopathology. Several reports describe stroke as a potential manifestation of LVNC, but bilateral PCA infarcts are likely also caused by underlying LVNC cardiomyopathy, although this has not yet been reported. CASE REPORT A 63-year-old man presented to the emergency department of an outside hospital with acute vision loss in both eyes and dysarthria. His neurological examination necessitated an emergent stroke evaluation. His electrocardiogram and telemetry at admission did not reveal arrhythmia. He underwent an emergency endovascular thrombectomy at our facility. During the post-intervention stroke workup, a transthoracic echocardiogram with contrast showed left ventricle dilation, with an ejection fraction (EF) of 29%. Subsequent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of LVNC cardiomyopathy. He was started on therapeutic anticoagulation (apixaban) and remained stable neurologically during the 3-month followup, with some residual visual field deficits. His cardiac outcome also improved (stress test was unremarkable for any cardiac ischemia, and an echocardiogram showing improved EF of 40%). CONCLUSIONS Our report is distinct, as it presents 2 exceedingly rare events in a patient: the occurrence of simultaneous bilateral PCA infarcts and LVNC cardiomyopathy. Prompt and accurate diagnosis was pivotal to the successful management of both conditions. Prospective studies are warranted to further knowledge of LVNC pathophysiology and the occurrence of stroke in such patients so that comprehensive management plans can be devised

Clinical outcomes of renal and liver transplant patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: analysis of national inpatient sample database

Background: The transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has recently gained traction as a viable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), but data on its safety and clinical outcomes in transplant patients are limited. Methods: We retrieved relevant demographic and clinical outcome data from the U.S. National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for the year 2012–2015. The clinical outcomes of TAVR in renal transplant (RT) and liver transplant (LT) were ascertained using an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) on Mantzel–Hensel test. Results: A total of 62,399 TAVR patients were identified; 62,180 (99.6%) with no history of transplant, 219 (0.4%) with RT and 85 (0.1%) with LT. There was no significant difference in odds of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.25–1.5, p = 0.37), major cardiovascular, respiratory or neurological complications in patients with and without RT. Similarly, the odds of cardiac complications, renal and neurological complications between patients with and without LT were identical. Conclusion: Compared to non-transplant patients, TAVR appears to be associated with similar odds of major systemic complications or mortality in patients with a history of kidney or liver transplant