Giuseppe Fradella

Ageing and atrial electrophysiologic properties in man

In order to assess the influence of age on atrial electrophysiologic properties, we studied 17 normal subjects, whose ages were homogeneously distributed between 17 and 78 years, measuring in each of them effective (ERP) and functional (FRP) refractory periods at 3 sites of the right atrium (high, middle and low in the lateral wall) at the same driven frequency (120/min). Twice threshold stimuli of 2 msec duration were applied. Dispersion of atrial refractoriness was measured as the longest minus the shortest refractory period. A significant direct correlation was observed between age and dispersion of atrial refractoriness (of ERP: r = 0.75, P less than 0.001; of FRP: r = 0.82, P less than 0.001). Moreover, age showed a significant direct correlation with refractoriness at high right atrium (ERP: r = 0.66, P less than 0.01; FRP: r = 0.76, P less than 0.001), but did not correlate with that at the other two sites. We suggest that ageing modifies atrial refractoriness in a non-uniform manner inducing a progressive increment of dispersion of atrial refractoriness. The impression is that a slow but continuous process takes place from juvenility to old age.

Epidemiology and patterns of care of patients admitted to Italian Intensive Cardiac Care units: the BLITZ-3 registry.

Background Intensive cardiac care units (ICCUs) have shifted from the observation of patients with myocardial infarction to the care of different acute cardiac diseases. However, few data on such an evolution are available. Methods and results From 7 to 20 April 2008, 6986 consecutive patients admitted to 81% of Italian ICCUs were prospectively enrolled. Patients observed were mainly elderly men (median age 72 years) with several co-morbidities. Most of them were triaged to ICCU from the emergency room, but 15% of admissions were transfer-in from other hospitals. Several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were applied (78% had echocardiography and 35% coronary angiography) during the ICCU stay [median length 4 days, interquartile range (IQR) 2–5]. The discharge diagnosis was ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in 21%, non-ST-elevation ACS in 31%, acute heart failure (AHF) in 14% and other acute non-ACS, non-AHF cardiac diseases in 34%. Of those with ST-elevation ACS, 60% received reperfusion (15% fibrinolysis and 45% primary percutaneous coronary intervention). The overall in-ICCU crude mortality was 3.3%. Conclusion The BLITZ-3 survey provides a unique snapshot of current epidemiology and patterns of care of patients admitted to ICCUs. Although ACS still remains the most frequent admission diagnosis, the number of non-ACS patients is substantial. However, the correct standard of care for these non-ACS patients has to be defined.

Severe Hypoplasia of the Posterior Mitral Leaflet

A rare case of a 14-year-old child with congenital mitral insufficiency secondary to hypoplasia of the posterior leaflet is reported. Echocardiography revealed the almost complete absence of the posterior mitral leaflet, which determined massive regurgitation. At surgical inspection the posterior leaflet was almost completely absent, represented only by tags of fibrous tissue that strictly adhered to the posterior annulus with a total absence of chordae inserting into the hypoplastic leaflet. The mitral valve was successfully repaired by restrictive annuloplasty, which gained a satisfactory surface of coaptation between the anterior leaflet and the primordial posterior structure, resulting in stable valve continence.

Elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes admitted to Italian intensive cardiac care units: a Blitz-3 Registry sub-analysis.

Background Guideline-recommended therapies for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) derive from randomized trials in which elderly patients are underrepresented. Although numbers of this population are increasing, they are largely undertreated in the real world. Objective The study evaluates the impact of older age on care for patients with ACS admitted to the Italian Intensive Cardiac Care Units (ICCUs) network. Methods We analyzed data from the BLITZ-3 Registry in order to assess in-hospital care among unselected elderly patients (≥75 years). Results From 7–20 April 2008, 6986 consecutive patients with acute cardiac conditions were admitted to ICCUs and prospectively enrolled; 3636 (52%) had ACS and 38% of them were elderly. Elderly patients had a higher risk profile, their median length of stay in ICCU was longer [4 days, interquartile range (IQR): 3–6 vs. 3 days, IQR: 2–5; Pu200a<u200a0.0001] and guideline-recommended care was applied less often. At multivariable analysis, elderly patients were less likely to receive reperfusion [odds ratio (OR)u200a=u200a0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI)u200a=u200a0.42–0.67] for ST-elevation, or early coronary angiography (ORu200a=u200a0.45, 95% CIu200a=u200a0.37–0.56) for non-ST elevation ACS. Besides, unadjusted in-ICCU total mortality was higher for elderly patients with ST-elevation (11.8% elderly vs. 1.8% younger patients; Pu200a<u200a0.0001) or non-ST-elevation (3.9% elderly vs. 0.6% younger patients; Pu200a<u200a0.0001) ACS. Conclusion In a nationwide survey, age impacts on care. The elderly with ACS have a higher risk profile but receive less guideline-recommended care than younger patients. Thus, further improvements in care of this population should be pursued.

Clinical implications and management of bleeding events in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

In the past decades, there has been a significant development in the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), largely driven by advances in antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents. Despite significant improvements in efficacy end points such as death, myocardial infarction and repeated revascularization, these therapies are still associated with a significant risk of bleeding. Such bleedings are independent predictors of long-term adverse clinical events. Data that are currently available on the magnitude and the predictors of bleeding complications in patients with ACS have been obtained from randomized clinical trials. However, patients perceived to be at higher risk of complications, including the elderly or those with renal insufficiency, are often excluded from these trials, but constitute a significant percentage of patients treated for ACS. For these reasons, new bleeding risk scores are under evaluation to facilitate management and subsequent treatment decisions in the real world. Better identification of higher risk patients, careful dosing and appropriate monitoring of antithrombotic therapies, and incorporation of various peri-procedural strategies in routine clinical practice may potentially reduce the risk of bleeding of patients with ACS and further improve their clinical outcomes.

Effects of pharmacologic autonomic blockade on atrial electrophysiologic properties in normal subjects and in patients with sinus node disease

In order to elucidate the influence of autonomic nervous system on atrial electrophysiologic properties, we studied 10 patients with sinus node dysfunction and 10 age-matched normal subjects. In each of them effective and functional refractory periods of the right atrium (near its junction with the superior caval vein) were measured, during atrial pacing (100/min) and using variable current strengths (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, and 15 mA), before and after pharmacologic autonomic blockade (using intravenous propranolol 0.2 mg/kg and atropine 0.04 mg/kg). Mean values of effective and functional refractory periods at each current strength were significantly higher in patients with sinus node disease than in normal subjects both before and after autonomic blockade. Blockade did not significantly modify mean values of effective and functional refractory periods at any current strength, either in patients with sinus node disease or in normal subjects. Furthermore, autonomic blockade did not change the effects of the increase of current strength on atrial refractoriness in either group. We conclude that our data indicate a prolonged refractoriness to be present in patients with sinus node disease even in the absence of influences from the autonomic nervous system. Thus, we can suggest a primary involvement of atrial fibers in this pathophysiological condition. Propranolol together with atropine did not induce changes of atrial refractoriness. Indeed, they probably exerted an opposite effect. The effects of the increase of current strength on atrial excitability do not seem to be mediated by autonomic humoral agents.

I pazienti con scompenso cardiaco nelle unità di terapia intensiva cardiologica italiane: i dati dello studio BLITZ-3

BACKGROUND: Only limited information about clinical characteristics, diagnostic procedures and therapeutic options is available in patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) for heart failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate causes of admission, clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic options, and outcome of patients admitted for heart failure in the ICCU network. METHODS: The BLITZ-3 Registry prospectively included patients admitted by 332 Italian ICCUs. Data of the patients admitted with a principal diagnosis of heart failure are analyzed. RESULTS: From April 7 to 20, 2008, 6986 consecutive patients with acute cardiac conditions were admitted to ICCUs; 966 (14%) out of 6986 patients were admitted for acute heart failure. Heart failure was the second cause of admission after acute coronary syndromes (52%). Mean age of patients admitted for heart failure was 73 years, 42% were female, and diabetes accounted for 32% of heart failure patients. Most patients were admitted to the emergency department (62%), and were discharged by the cardiology ward (65%). Median length of stay in the ICCU was 4 days, and during the stay in ICCU 5% of the patients with heart failure died. Advanced age and elevated creatinine values were associated with a higher risk of death. Echocardiography was performed in 79% of heart failure patients, coronary angiography in 10%, assisted ventilation in 15%, ultrafiltration in 3%, and right catheterization in 1%. Diuretics were administered in 93% of patients admitted for acute heart failure, intravenous nitrates in 41%, inotropes in 22%, beta-blockers in 42%, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in 66%. CONCLUSIONS: In a nationwide survey, acute heart failure accounted for 14% of hospital admissions in ICCUs. Patients admitted for heart failure are usually old, with frequent comorbidities. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are rarely used, with the exception of echocardiography.

Coronary embolism following valve surgery.

A 55-year-old man experienced chest pain on the seventh day after valve surgery. Coronary angiography showed embolic occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The lesion was treated successfully with thrombectomy using the angiojet rheolytic thrombectomy system, resulting in rapid mechanical thrombolysis and removal via the effluent lumen of the catheter. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 3 flow was restored.

Influence of Current Strength and Length of Basic Drive on Atrial Refractoriness in Man

An analysis of the influence of current strength and length of basic drive on atrial refractoriness has not been performed sistematically in the human atrium. We studied 29 patients (24 males and 5 females), ranging in age from 23 to 78 yrs. Atrial effective (ERP) and functional (FRP) refractory periods were measured during atrial pacing (100/min) using: a) variable current strengths (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15 mA) and introducing extrastimuli after the eight paced complex of the basic drive; b) a constant current strength (5 mA) and introducing extrastimuli after 8 beats, 1 minute and 3 minutes of the basic drive. A bipolar stimulation, with the distal pole as cathode was performed. In all patients the increase of both current strength and basic drive length produced a reduction of ERP and FRP. At current strengths higher than 7 mA ERP and FRP became nearly fixed. We conclude that: 1. as stimulation occurs earlier in the cardiac cycle, more current and/or a longer previous basic drive are required to initiate a response. This is noteworthy considering that the ability to initiate or terminate reentrant arrhythmias by programmed stimulation is dependent on the refractoriness of the limbs of the reentrant circuit; 2. the relation between stimulus strength and atrial refractoriness is non linear. This could imply that if refractoriness is determined at a single current strength, it would be more appropriate to do so at a current strength (> 7 mA) at which minimal changes in refractoriness are observed; 3. 8 beats of atrial pacing are not sufficient to achieve a steady state of atrial refractoriness.

Impact of renal function impairment assessed by CKDEPI estimated glomerular filtration rate on early and late outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUNDnWe explore the association between short- and long- term adverse outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the degree of preoperative renal dysfunction classified on glomerular fraction estimated with Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration equation (eGFRCKD-EPI). We also try to identify cut-off values of eGFRCKD-EPI able to predict post-CABG unfavorable events and assess whether a reclassification with new thresholds is necessary.nnnMETHODSnOne-thousand-one-hundred-eighty-six consecutive patients undergoing CABG between 2005 and 2014 were categorized in 4 groups according to the eGFRCKD-EPI: Group 1 (≥60ml/min/1.73m2; n=1199), Group 2 (45-59ml/min/1.73m2; n=358), Group 3 (30-44ml/min/1.73m2; n=171) and Group 4 (≤29ml/min/1.73m2; n=126). Median follow-up was 66months [IQR 46-84].nnnRESULTSneGFRCKD-EPI ≤30ml/min/1.73m2, ≤41ml/min/1.73m2, ≤27ml/min/1.73m2 and ≤29ml/min/1.73m2 were strong predictors of early mortality (OR 5.88 [95% CI 2.59-11.25]), stroke (2.59 [1.43-3.71]), prolonged length of stay (3.49 [1.24-5.92]) and postoperative dialysis (3.68 [1.34-4.91]), respectively. In addition, eGFRCKD-EPI ≤26ml/min/1.73m2, ≤25ml/min/1.73m2, ≤35ml/min/1.73m2 and ≤29ml/min/1.73m2 predicted all-cause death (hazard ratio 2.74 [95% CI 2.10-3.92] cardiovascular death (sub-hazard ratio 2.11 [95% CI 1.42-3.90]), myocardial infarction (2.01 [1.32-3.70]) and heart failure (2.24 [1.41-3.93]), respectively. Analyses corrected by age and left ventricular ejection fraction confirmed these findings.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn our experience, the use of the eGFRCKD-EPI equation led to categorization with a significantly lower number of patients at risk for post-CABG complications. This might have important clinical repercussions on allocation of healthcare resources and more targeted prevention and management of CABG complications.