Dennis Morris

Acute Biventricular Mechanical Circulatory Support for Cardiogenic Shock

Background Biventricular failure is associated with high in‐hospital mortality. Limited data regarding the efficacy of biventricular Impella axial flow catheters (BiPella) support for biventricular failure exist. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical utility of percutaneously delivered BiPella as a novel acute mechanical support strategy for patients with cardiogenic shock complicated by biventricular failure. Methods and Results We retrospectively analyzed data from 20 patients receiving BiPella for biventricular failure from 5 tertiary‐care hospitals in the United States. Left ventricular support was achieved with an Impella 5.0 (n=8), Impella CP (n=11), or Impella 2.5 (n=1). All patients received the Impella RP for right ventricular (RV) support. BiPella use was recorded in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (n=11), advanced heart failure (n=7), and myocarditis (n=2). Mean flows achieved were 3.4±1.2 and 3.5±0.5 for left ventricular and RV devices, respectively. Total in‐hospital mortality was 50%. No intraprocedural mortality was observed. Major complications included limb ischemia (n=1), hemolysis (n=6), and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction major bleeding (n=7). Compared with nonsurvivors, survivors were younger, had a lower number of inotropes or vasopressors used before BiPella, and were more likely to have both devices implanted simultaneously during the same procedure. Compared with nonsurvivors, survivors had lower pulmonary artery pressures and RV stroke work index before BiPella. Indices of RV afterload were quantified for 14 subjects. Among these patients, nonsurvivors had higher pulmonary vascular resistance (6.8; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 5.5–8.1 versus 1.9; 95% CI, 0.8–3.0; P<0.01), effective pulmonary artery elastance (1129; 95% CI, 876–1383 versus 458; 95% CI, 263–653; P<0.01), and lower pulmonary artery compliance (1.5; 95% CI, 0.9–2.1 versus 2.7; 95% CI, 1.8–3.6; P<0.05). Conclusions This is the largest, retrospective analysis of BiPella for cardiogenic shock. BiPella is feasible, reduces cardiac filling pressures and improves cardiac output across a range of causes for cardiogenic shock. Simultaneous left ventricular and RV device implantation and lower RV afterload may be associated with better outcomes with BiPella. Future prospective studies of BiPella for cardiogenic shock are required.

Natural history of severe aortic stenosis: Diastolic wall strain as a novel prognostic marker

Diastolic wall strain (DWS) has been proposed as a simple noninvasive measure of left ventricular (LV) stiffness. This study investigated DWS as a possible predictor of mortality in severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Effects of Pulmonary Hypertension on Kidney Function

There is a scarcity of data defining hemodynamic correlates of renal function in pulmonary hypertension (PH). The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between standard and novel hemodynamic indices, including the pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) and the right atrial to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (RA:PCWP) ratio, and renal function in PH. We conducted a retrospective study of adult patients with PH diagnosed by right-heart catheterization (RHC) between January 2007 and October 2012 at Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia. Patients with end-stage renal disease were excluded. Pulmonary artery pulse pressure, RA:PCWP, PAPi (pulmonary artery pulse pressure/RA), as well as standard RHC variables were studied. The final cohort consisted of 171 patients. The median age was 59±13 years, 52% were men, and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 39±8.9 mm Hg. Sixty-eight patients had worsening creatinine from the time of admission to the time of RHC. Patients with a RA:PCWP of >0.86 had a significantly higher creatinine level at RHC (2.2±1.0 vs. 1.7±1.7 mg/dL, P=0.01) and worsening creatinine (+0.9±0.9 vs. +0.4±0.3 mg/dL, P=0.03). The major finding of this study is that in PH (all groups), worsening renal function from the time of admission to RHC correlated significantly with high RA:PCWP and low ejection fraction. High RA:PCWP was found to be a better predictor of worsening renal function than other novel and standard hemodynamic indices such as elevated right atrial pressure and PAPi.

TCT-651 Acceleration time and Low Flow, Low Gradient, Severe Aortic Stenosis: Correlation and Prediction of Valve Area

RESULTS 47 (34%) patients had stroke volume index < 35 and 28 (20%) had low flow and low aortic mean gradient (<40 mmHg). There were no significant differences in gender and race distribution or past medical history in the groups divided based on LF/LG. The aortic valve area by continuity equation was 0.74 0.16 vs 0.73 0.14, nor was there a difference in AVA index, dimensionless index or EF. Mean gradient (45 16 vs 27.5 7 mmHg), as did peak gradient (73 23 vs 48 12 mmHg), stroke volume index (42.4 10 vs 28 5 ml/m2), ZVA (4.3 1.4 vs 5.4 1.8), average AT (113 20 vs 94 16 ms) and average ejection time (316 31 vs 292 37 sec) were significantly different (p value <.01). AT significantly and negatively correlated with AVA index in both the LF/LG (r -0.368, p <.01), and rest of the cohort group (r -0.414, p <.01). Adjusted for age, gender, race, and ejection fraction using linear multivariate regression analysis, AT and LF/LG were significant predictors of AVA index.