Heart rate and pulse pressure at rest are major prognostic markers of early postoperative complications after coronary bypass surgery.

ERMAInternational audienceOBJECTIVE: There is substantial evidence to consider both heart rate (HR) at rest and pulse pressure (PP) as significant markers of cardiovascular prognosis in the general population. Despite this, neither of these two parameters has been taken into consideration in the design of modern coronary artery bypass risk prediction scores, and little data on their early postoperative prognostic value are currently available. We aimed to assess the predictive value of preoperative HR and PP in the 30-day postoperative period. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled all patients referred to our institution for non-urgent coronary artery bypass grafting. We measured HR on ECG at admittance. Preoperative pulse pressure was obtained by the difference of the mean of three consecutive systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The primary outcome combined the 30-day postoperative mortality, myocardial infarction (new Q-waves on ECG or Troponin-I >20 microg/l) and stroke or transient ischemic attack. The secondary outcome corresponded to clinical events only (stroke or death). Statistical analysis was performed by usual methods. RESULTS: We enrolled 1022 patients (age 66.9+/-9.2 years). Those meeting the primary outcome (n=146) had a significantly higher HR (69.9+/-14.3 bpm vs 64.9+/-13.2 bpm, p70 mmHg (17.1% vs 10.2%, p70 mmHg (OR=1.99, p=0.03) remained significant risk predictors. Similar results were found when considering only clinical events. CONCLUSION: This prospective study highlights the usefulness of HR and PP as preoperative risk markers in CABG candidates

Single-centred experience with levosimendan in paediatric decompensated dilated cardiomyopathy

SummaryBackgroundChildren with dilated cardiomyopathy in advanced heart failure may spend a long time awaiting heart transplantation. Consequently, mechanical circulatory support is sometimes required as a bridge to transplantation. Levosimendan, a positive inotropic agent, has been reported to be safe and efficient for the treatment of paediatric heart failure.AimsTo report our experience with levosimendan in children with decompensated dilated cardiomyopathy.MethodsPaediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy on the transplant waiting list and with criteria for mechanical support were included in this single-centred retrospective study. Each patient received at least one 24-hour infusion of levosimendan before mechanical circulatory support was considered. Biological and echocardiographic data were analysed.ResultsSix patients were included over a 24-month period. The median age was 25.5months (7.7–34.2months); 82 infusions were performed. Median B-type natriuretic peptide concentration decreased significantly between days 0 and 2 (2443ng/L [1458–3819ng/L] vs 1358ng/L [1025–2534ng/L]; P=0.003). While only a trend was noted in left ventricular ejection fraction improvement (P=0.054 by Simpson's method and P=0.068 by the Teicholz method), the subaortic velocity time integral rose significantly between days 0 and 8 (12.8cm/s [10–14.5cm/s] vs 15.3cm/s [14.3–16.9cm/s]; P=0.041).ConclusionsLevosimendan seems to improve haemodynamics in children with decompensated dilated cardiomyopathy; repeated infusions may delay the need for mechanical circulatory support while awaiting heart transplantation. This therapeutic agent should be systematically considered in this setting, in addition to conventional inotropic drugs

Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care

Short-term mechanical circulatory support (STMCS) may be used as an intentional escalation strategy to treat cardiogenic shock refractory (rCS). However, with growing technical possibilities, making the right choice at the right time can be challenging. We established a shock team in January 2013 comprising a cardiac anaesthetist-intensivist, an interventional cardiologist, and a cardiac surgeon. Since then, a diagnosis of rCS has triggered a multidisciplinary team meeting based on a common algorithm. This study aimed to compare the decision-making process for STMCS for rCS before (2007-2013) and after (2013-2019) the creation of the shock team. This before-and-after cohort study was conducted over a 156-month period. Post-cardiotomy rCS were excluded. The primary outcome was a 1-year survival rate. In total, 250 consecutive adult patients were included in the analysis (84 in the control group and 166 in the shock team group). At baseline, the CardShock score was not different between the two groups (5[3-5] vs. 5[4-6], p=0.323). The 1-year survival rate was significantly higher in the shock team group compared to the control group (59% vs. 45%, p = 0.043). After a Cox regression analysis, the shock team intervention was independently associated with a significantly improved 1-year survival rate (HR: 0.592, 95% CI: 0.398-0.880, p=0.010). A multidisciplinary shock team-based decision for STMCS device implantation in rCS is associated with better 1-year survival rates

Assistance circulatoire et transplantation d’organes thoraciques chez l’enfant

International audienceExtracorporeal life support and heart and/or lung transplant are the last resort in children with end-stage cardiac and/or pulmonary failure and short-term life threaten. Currently, circulatory support is used as a bridge to recovery or as a bridge to transplant but not as a destination therapy. The Excor Berlin Heart is the long-lasting external pneumatic ventricular assist system that is currently available from infancy to adulthood. Long-term prognosis after pediatric cardiac and/or pulmonary transplant is conditioned by the occurrence of graft failure, coronary disease of the cardiac graft, viral infections and bronchiolitis obliterans of the pulmonary graft, the incidence of which increase with time. The scarcity of grafts and the risk of acute rejection due to lack of compliance with immunosuppressive treatment require the transplant specialized teams to choose the best candidates according to psychosocial and biological criteria. The next expected developments concern mainly long-term ventricular assistance with systems that allow for greater autonomy and a return to the child's home.L’assistance circulatoire et la transplantation cardiaque et/ou pulmonaire pédiatrique sont les ultimes recours chez l’enfant ayant une défaillance cardiaque et/ou respiratoire terminale avec échec des traitements conventionnels et risque vital engagé à court terme. Actuellement, l’assistance circulatoire est utilisée en attente de récupération ou de transplantation mais pas en stratégie à long terme. Le Berlin Heart Excor est le système d’assistance ventriculaire pneumatique externe de longue durée actuellement disponible du nouveau-né jusqu’à l’âge adulte. Le pronostic à long terme après transplantation cardiaque et/ou pulmonaire pédiatrique est conditionné par la survenue d’une défaillance du greffon, par la maladie coronaire du greffon cardiaque, par les infections virales et la bronchiolite oblitérante du greffon pulmonaire, dont les incidences augmentent avec le temps. La pénurie de greffons et le risque de rejet aigu de greffon par défaut de compliance au traitement immunosuppresseur imposent un choix par les équipes spécialisées des candidats à la greffe en fonction de critères psychosociaux et biologiques. Les prochains développements attendus concernent surtout les assistances ventriculaires de longue durée avec des systèmes permettant d’envisager une plus grande autonomie et un retour à domicile de l’enfant

Diuretic dose is a strong prognostic factor in ambulatory patients awaiting heart transplantation

International audienceAims The prognostic value of 'high dose' loop diuretics in advanced heart failure outpatients is unclear. We aimed to assess the prognosis associated with loop diuretic dose in ambulatory patients awaiting heart transplantation (HT). Methods and results All ambulatory patients (n = 700, median age 55 years and 70% men) registered on the French national HT waiting list between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2019 were included. Patients were divided into 'low dose', 'intermediate dose', and 'high dose' loop diuretics corresponding to furosemide equivalent doses of ≤40, 40-250, and >250 mg, respectively. The primary outcome was a combined criterion of waitlist death and urgent HT. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, creatinine levels, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and pulmonary pressures gradually increased with higher diuretic dose. At 12 months, the risk of waitlist death/urgent HT was 7.4%, 19.2%, and 25.6% (P = 0.001) for 'low dose', 'intermediate dose', and 'high dose' patients, respectively. When adjusting for confounders, including natriuretic peptides, hepatic, and renal function, the 'high dose' group was associated with increased waitlist mortality or urgent HT [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.23, 1.33 to 3.73; P = 0.002] and a six-fold higher risk of waitlist death (adjusted HR 6.18, 2.16 to 17.72; P 0.05). Conclusions A 'high dose' of loop diuretics is strongly associated with residual congestion and is a predictor of outcome in patients awaiting HT despite adjustment for classical cardiorenal risk factors. This routine variable may be helpful for risk stratification of pre-HT patients

Prognosis value of Forrester's classification in advanced heart failure patients awaiting heart transplantation

International audienceAims: The value of Forrester's perfusion/congestion profiles assessed by invasive catheter evaluation in non-inotrope advanced heart failure patients listed for heart transplant (HT) is unclear. We aimed to assess the value of haemodynamic evaluation according to Forrester's profiles to predict events on the HT waitlist.Methods and results: All non-inotrope patients (n = 837, 79% ambulatory at listing) registered on the French national HT waiting list between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2019 with right heart catheterization (RHC) were included. The primary outcome was a combined criteria of waitlist death, delisting for aggravation, urgent HT or left ventricular assist device implantation. Secondary outcome was waitlist death. The 'warm-dry', 'cold-dry', 'warm-wet', and 'cold-wet' profiles represented 27%, 18%, 27%, and 28% of patients, respectively. At 12 months, the respective rates of primary outcome were 15%, 17%, 25%, and 29% (P = 0.008). Taking the 'warm-dry' category as reference, a significant increase in the risk of primary outcome was observed only in the 'wet' categories, irrespectively of 'warm/cold' status: hazard ratios, 1.50; 1.06-2.13; P = 0.024 in 'warm-wet' and 1.77; 1. 25-2.49; P = 0.001 in 'cold-wet'.Conclusions: Haemodynamic assessment of advanced HF patients using perfusion/congestion profiles predicts the risk of the combine endpoint of waitlist death, delisting for aggravation, urgent heart transplantation, or left ventricular assist device implantation. 'Wet' patients had the worst prognosis, independently of perfusion status, thus placing special emphasis on the cardinal prominence of persistent congestion in advanced HF