SCUBA Diving in Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Conventionally, scuba diving has been discouraged for adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD). This restrictive sports advice is based on expert opinion in the absence of high-quality diving-specific studies. However, as survival and quality of life in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients have dramatically improved in the last decades, a critical appraisal whether such restrictive sports advice is still applicable is warranted. In this review, the cardiovascular effects of diving are described and a framework for the work-up for ACHD patients wishing to engage in scuba diving is provided. In addition, diving recommendations for specific CHD diagnostic groups are proposed

Early detection of ventricular arrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease using an insertable cardiac monitor (EDVA-CHD study)

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to ventricular arrhythmias (VA) is an important mode of death in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Risk stratification is difficult in this heterogeneous population. Insertable cardiac monitors (ICM) may be useful for risk stratification. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of ICM for the detection of VA in adults with CHD. Methods: In this prospective single-center observational study we included consecutive adults with CHD deemed at risk of VA who received an ICM between March 2013 and February 2019. The decision to implant an ICM was made in a Heart Team consisting of a cardiac electrophysiologist and a cardiologist specialized in CHD. Results: A total of 30 patients (mean age, 38 ± 15 years; 50% male) received an ICM. During a median follow-up of 16 months, 8 patients (27%) had documented nonsustained VA. Of these 8 patients, 3 (10%) received a prophylactic ICD. Furthermore, ICM-detected arrhythmias were present in 22 patients (73%) leading to a change in clinical management in 16 patients (53%). Besides the patients receiving an ICD, 10 patients (33%) had a change in their antiarrhythmic drugs, 6 patients (20%) underwent an electrophysiology study, and 1 patient (3%) received a pacemaker. Conclusions: The detection of VA by the ICM contributed to the clinical decision to implant a prophylactic ICD. Furthermore, ICM-detected arrhythmias led to important changes in the clinical management. Therefore, long-term arrhythmia monitoring by an ICM seems valuable for risk stratification in adults with CHD

Prognostic value of the electrocardiogram in patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease

Background: Identifying bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients at risk for cardiac events remains challenging and the role of the electrocardiogram (ECG) has not yet been described. Therefore, this study aims to describe ECG parameters in BAV patients, and investigate their prognostic value. Methods: In this single-center prospective study patients with BAV without a prior aortic valve replacement (AVR) were included. Transthoracic echocardiogram and 12‑lead resting-ECG were obtained. Associations between ECG parameters and the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and AVR were assessed using Cox-proportional hazard analysis. Results: 120 patients with BAV were included (median age 30 years, 61% male). Median aortic jet velocity was 2.4 m/s [IQR: 1.7–3.4] and 5 patients (4%) had severe aortic regurgitation. All patients were in sinus rhythm. Any ECG abnormality was present in 57 patients (48%). Median PR-interval was 156 [IQR: 138–170] msec. A deviating QRS axis was found in 17 patients (14%) and Cornell criteria for LVH were fulfilled in 20 patients (17%). Repolarization abnormalities were present in 12 patients (10%). Median follow-up duration was 7.0 [6.3–9.8] years, during which 23 patients underwent AVR and 2 patients died. After adjusting for age, a longer PR-interval was associated with worse intervention-free survival (HR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04). Conclusion: Almost half of the patients with BAV had abnormalities on their ECG. Moreover, the PR-interval may be an interesting prognostic marker for intervention-free survival in BAV patients.</p

Blood and Imaging Biomarkers in the Long-term Follow-up of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital heart defect. Patients with BAV are at risk for long-term complications such as valve stenosis and regurgitation. This study aimed to investigate sex differences in blood and imaging biomarkers and to describe the long-term prognostic value of blood and echocardiographic biomarkers. Methods:Patients were included from 2 prospective observational cohort studies; they underwent venous blood sampling and transthoracic echocardiography including speckle tracking. Analyzed blood biomarkers were red-cell distribution width (RDW), creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), troponin T, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Sex differences were analyzed at baseline. Associations between biomarkers and arrhythmia-free and intervention-free survival were determined by Cox regression, adjusted for age and sex. Results:A total of 182 patients with BAV were included: median age 34; interquartile range [IQR]: 23-46 years; 55.5% male. CRP, NT-proBNP, and RDW were higher in women, whereas creatinine, troponin T and TGF-β were higher among men. After a median follow-up time of 6.9 (IQR: 6.5-9.9) years, arrhythmia-free and intervention-free survival was, 81.0% and 73.1%, respectively. NT-proBNP was associated with both arrhythmia-free and intervention-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.94, P = 0.005 and HR, 2.06, P = 0.002, respectively). On echocardiography higher left atrial (LA) size, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular (LV) mass index and E/e’ ratio were associated with lower arrhythmia-free survival, whereas higher LA size, LV mass index, aortic valve peak velocity, and aortic regurgitation were associated with lower intervention-free survival. Conclusions: Differences were observed in blood biomarkers between men and women with BAV. Besides LV systolic parameters, diastolic LV function and NT-proBNP should have a more prominent role as prognostic markers in clinical care.</p

The Prognostic Value of Soluble ST2 in Adults with Pulmonary Hypertension

Soluble ST2 (sST2) is upregulated in response to myocardial stress and may serve as biomarker in adults with pulmonary hypertension (PH). This prospective cohort study investigated sST2 levels and its association with echocardiographic and hemodynamic measures, and adverse clinical outcomes in adults with PH of different etiologies. sST2 was measured during the diagnostic right heart catheterization for PH, in adult patients enrolled between May 2012 and October 2016. PH due to left heart failure was excluded. The association between sST2 and a primary endpoint composed of death or lung transplantation and a secondary composite endpoint including death, lung transplantation or heart failure, was investigated using Cox regression with adjustment for NT-proBNP. In total 104 patients were included (median age was 59 years, 66% woman, 51% pulmonary arterial hypertension). Median sST2 was 28 [IQR 20–46] ng/mL. Higher sST2 was associated with worse right ventricular dysfunction and higher mean pulmonary and right atrial pressures. Median follow-up was 3.3 [IQR 2.3–4.6] years. The primary and secondary endpoint occurred in 33 (31.7%) and 43 (41.3%) patients, respectively. sST2 was significantly associated with both endpoints (HR per 2-fold higher value 1.53, 95%CI 1.12–2.07, p = 0.007 and 1.45, 95%CI 1.10–1.90, p = 0.008, respectively). However, after adjustment for NT-proBNP, both associations did not reach statistical significance. In conclusions, higher sST2 levels are associated with more severe PH and right ventricular dysfunction and yields prognostic value in adults with PH, although not independently of NT-proBNP

End-stage heart failure in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries:a multicentre study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: For patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA), factors associated with progression to end-stage congestive heart failure (CHF) remain largely unclear. METHODS: This multicentre, retrospective cohort study included adults with ccTGA seen at a congenital heart disease centre. Clinical data from initial and most recent visits were obtained. The composite primary outcome was mechanical circulatory support, heart transplantation, or death. RESULTS: From 558 patients (48% female, age at first visit 36 ± 14.2 years, median follow-up 8.7 years), the event rate of the primary outcome was 15.4 per 1000 person-years (11 mechanical circulatory support implantations, 12 transplantations, and 52 deaths). Patients experiencing the primary outcome were older and more likely to have a history of atrial arrhythmia. The primary outcome was highest in those with both moderate/severe right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation (n = 110, 31 events) and uncommon in those with mild/less RV dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation (n = 181, 13 events, P &lt; .001). Outcomes were not different based on anatomic complexity and history of tricuspid valve surgery or of subpulmonic obstruction. New CHF admission or ventricular arrhythmia was associated with the primary outcome. Individuals who underwent childhood surgery had more adverse outcomes than age- and sex-matched controls. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified older age, prior CHF admission, and severe RV dysfunction as independent predictors for the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ccTGA have variable deterioration to end-stage heart failure or death over time, commonly between their fifth and sixth decades. Predictors include arrhythmic and CHF events and severe RV dysfunction but not anatomy or need for tricuspid valve surgery.</p

Recuperação hidrofóbica de polipropileno tratado por VUV ou plasma

Tratamentos superficiais por plasma e ultravioleta de vácuo (VUV) foram utilizados para introduzir grupos funcionais contendo oxigênio em amostras de polipropileno, com objetivo de modificar sua molhabilidade. Análises por ATR-FTIR, AFM e ângulo de contato (AC) foram utilizadas para analisar as mudanças químicas e físicas na superfície do PP em função do tempo. Os resultados mostraram que as mudanças na molhabilidade das amostras tratadas por VUV ocorreram principalmente devido à alteração química da superfície. Nas amostras tratadas por plasma, o envelhecimento ocorreu mais rapidamente que as amostras tratadas por VUV. Para ambos os tratamentos, provavelmente ocorreu um rearranjo das cadeias durante o envelhecimento, além de uma possível reticulação da superfície na amostra tratada por VUV