Lukasz Chrzanowski

Extent of Coronary and Myocardial Disease and Benefit From Surgical Revascularization in LV Dysfunction

BACKGROUND Patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction have higher operative risk with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, those whose early risk is surpassed by subsequent survival benefit have not been identified. OBJECTIVES This study sought to examine the impact of anatomic variables associated with poor prognosis on the effect of CABG in ischemic cardiomyopathy. METHODS All 1,212 patients in the STICH (Surgical Treatment of IsChemic Heart failure) surgical revascularization trial were included. Patients had coronary artery disease (CAD) and ejection fraction (EF) of ≤35% and were randomized to receive CABG plus medical therapy or optimal medical therapy (OMT) alone. This study focused on 3 prognostic factors: presence of 3-vessel CAD, EF below the median (27%), and end-systolic volume index (ESVI) above the median (79 ml/m(2)). Patients were categorized as having 0 to 1 or 2 to 3 of these factors. RESULTS Patients with 2 to 3 prognostic factors (n = 636) had reduced mortality with CABG compared with those who received OMT (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56 to 0.89; p = 0.004); CABG had no such effect in patients with 0 to 1 factor (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.44; p = 0.591). There was a significant interaction between the number of factors and the effect of CABG on mortality (p = 0.022). Although 30-day risk with CABG was higher, a net beneficial effect of CABG relative to OMT was observed at >2 years in patients with 2 to 3 factors (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.75; p<0.001) but not in those with 0 to 1 factor (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.31; p = 0.535). CONCLUSIONS Patients with more advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy receive greater benefit from CABG. This supports the indication for surgical revascularization in patients with more extensive CAD and worse myocardial dysfunction and remodeling. (Comparison of Surgical and Medical Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease [STICH]; NCT00023595).

Ten-Year Outcomes After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting According to Age in Patients With Heart Failure and Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction: An Analysis of the Extended Follow-Up of the STICH Trial (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure).

Background: Advancing age is associated with a greater prevalence of coronary artery disease in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and with a higher risk of complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Whether the efficacy of CABG compared with medical therapy (MED) in patients with heart failure caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy is the same in patients of different ages is unknown. Methods: A total of 1212 patients (median follow-up, 9.8 years) with ejection fraction ⩽35% and coronary disease amenable to CABG were randomized to CABG or MED in the STICH trial (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure). Results: Mean age at trial entry was 60 years; 12% were women; 36% were nonwhite; and the baseline ejection fraction was 28%. For the present analyses, patients were categorized by age quartiles: quartile 1, ⩽54 years; quartile, 2 >54 and ⩽60 years; quartile 3, >60 and ⩽67 years; and quartile 4, >67 years. Older versus younger patients had more comorbidities. All-cause mortality was higher in older compared with younger patients assigned to MED (79% versus 60% for quartiles 4 and 1, respectively; log-rank P=0.005) and CABG (68% versus 48% for quartiles 4 and 1, respectively; log-rank P<0.001). In contrast, cardiovascular mortality was not statistically significantly different across the spectrum of age in the MED group (53% versus 49% for quartiles 4 and 1, respectively; log-rank P=0.388) or CABG group (39% versus 35% for quartiles 4 and 1, respectively; log-rank P=0.103). Cardiovascular deaths accounted for a greater proportion of deaths in the youngest versus oldest quartile (79% versus 62%). The effect of CABG versus MED on all-cause mortality tended to diminish with increasing age (Pinteraction=0.062), whereas the benefit of CABG on cardiovascular mortality was consistent over all ages (Pinteraction=0.307). There was a greater reduction in all-cause mortality or cardiovascular hospitalization with CABG versus MED in younger compared with older patients (Pinteraction=0.004). In the CABG group, cardiopulmonary bypass time or days in intensive care did not differ for older versus younger patients. Conclusions: CABG added to MED has a more substantial benefit on all-cause mortality and the combination of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization in younger compared with older patients. CABG added to MED has a consistent beneficial effect on cardiovascular mortality regardless of age. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00023595.

Extent of coronary and myocardial disease and benefit from surgical revascularization in ischemic LV dysfunction [Corrected].

BACKGROUND Patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction have higher operative risk with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, those whose early risk is surpassed by subsequent survival benefit have not been identified. OBJECTIVES This study sought to examine the impact of anatomic variables associated with poor prognosis on the effect of CABG in ischemic cardiomyopathy. METHODS All 1,212 patients in the STICH (Surgical Treatment of IsChemic Heart failure) surgical revascularization trial were included. Patients had coronary artery disease (CAD) and ejection fraction (EF) of ≤35% and were randomized to receive CABG plus medical therapy or optimal medical therapy (OMT) alone. This study focused on 3 prognostic factors: presence of 3-vessel CAD, EF below the median (27%), and end-systolic volume index (ESVI) above the median (79 ml/m(2)). Patients were categorized as having 0 to 1 or 2 to 3 of these factors. RESULTS Patients with 2 to 3 prognostic factors (n = 636) had reduced mortality with CABG compared with those who received OMT (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56 to 0.89; p = 0.004); CABG had no such effect in patients with 0 to 1 factor (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.44; p = 0.591). There was a significant interaction between the number of factors and the effect of CABG on mortality (p = 0.022). Although 30-day risk with CABG was higher, a net beneficial effect of CABG relative to OMT was observed at >2 years in patients with 2 to 3 factors (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.75; p<0.001) but not in those with 0 to 1 factor (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.31; p = 0.535). CONCLUSIONS Patients with more advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy receive greater benefit from CABG. This supports the indication for surgical revascularization in patients with more extensive CAD and worse myocardial dysfunction and remodeling. (Comparison of Surgical and Medical Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease [STICH]; NCT00023595).

Severity of remodeling, myocardial viability, and survival in ischemic LV dysfunction after surgical revascularization

OBJECTIVES This study sought to test the hypothesis that end-systolic volume (ESV), as a marker of severity of left ventricular (LV) remodeling, influences the relationship between myocardial viability and survival in patients with coronary artery disease and LV systolic dysfunction. BACKGROUND Retrospective studies of ischemic LV dysfunction suggest that the severity of LV remodeling determines whether myocardial viability predicts improved survival with surgical compared with medical therapy, with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) only benefitting patients with viable myocardium who have smaller ESV. However, this has not been tested prospectively. METHODS Interactions of end-systolic volume index (ESVI), myocardial viability, and treatment with respect to survival were assessed in patients in the prospective randomized STICH (Comparison of Surgical and Medical Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease) trial of CABG versus medical therapy who underwent viability assessment (n = 601; age 61 ± 9 years; ejection fraction ≤35%), with a median follow-up of 5.1 years. Median ESVI was 84 ml/m(2). Viability was assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography or dobutamine echocardiography using pre-specified criteria. RESULTS Mortality was highest among patients with larger ESVI and nonviability (p < 0.001), but no interaction was observed between ESVI, viability status, and treatment assignment (p = 0.491). Specifically, the effect of CABG versus medical therapy in patients with viable myocardium and ESVI ≤84 ml/m(2) (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56 to 1.29) was no different than in patients with viability and ESVI >84 ml/m(2) (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.57 to 1.31). Other ESVI thresholds yielded similar results, including ESVI ≤60 ml/m(2) (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.44 to 1.74). ESVI and viability assessed as continuous rather than dichotomous variables yielded similar results (p = 0.562). CONCLUSIONS Among patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, those with greater LV ESVI and no substantial viability had worse prognosis. However, the effect of CABG relative to medical therapy was not differentially influenced by the combination of these 2 factors. Lower ESVI did not identify patients in whom myocardial viability predicted better outcome with CABG relative to medical therapy. (Comparison of Surgical and Medical Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease [STICH]; NCT00023595).

Predominant, Severe Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a primary genetic heart disorder with variable phenotype that involves myocardial thickening and obstruction of the ventricular outflow tract. In contrast to left ventricular pathology, the involvement of the right ventricle is uncommon, occurring in up to 15% of patients. Histological findings appear to be similar to those in the left ventricle, suggesting similar pathogenesis, but the rarer right-side flow obstruction may result in more severe symptoms. Occasionally, predominant right ventricular disease can be seen.1–7 A 52-year-old male with a history of alcohol and psychotropic drug abuse was referred to our department with New York Heart Association class III symptoms of heart failure after a resuscitated cardiac arrest. An ECG showed left atrial abnormality, left axis deviation, and left ventricular strain pattern (Figure 1). Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed marked symmetric left ventricular hypertrophy (diastolic thickness 21 to 25 mm) without signs of outflow tract obstruction. Normal contractile function of both ventricles was found (left ventricular ejection fraction 61%). A significant thickening of …

The Metamorphosis of the Thrombus After Thrombolytic Therapy

A 55-year-old male was admitted to the cardiology department because of progressive fatigue and exercise intolerance. The patient’s previous history included a dual-chamber pacemaker implantation 7 years before as a result of bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome and inferior myocardial infarction 6 years ago, which resulted in left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction of 30% on echocardiography and chronic total occlusion of the right coronary artery on coronary angiography). As a result of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, the pacemaker had previously been switched to …

Extent of Coronary and Myocardial Disease and Benefit from Surgical Revascularization in Patients with Ischemic Left Ventricular Dysfunction

BACKGROUND Patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction have higher operative risk with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, those whose early risk is surpassed by subsequent survival benefit have not been identified. OBJECTIVES This study sought to examine the impact of anatomic variables associated with poor prognosis on the effect of CABG in ischemic cardiomyopathy. METHODS All 1,212 patients in the STICH (Surgical Treatment of IsChemic Heart failure) surgical revascularization trial were included. Patients had coronary artery disease (CAD) and ejection fraction (EF) of ≤35% and were randomized to receive CABG plus medical therapy or optimal medical therapy (OMT) alone. This study focused on 3 prognostic factors: presence of 3-vessel CAD, EF below the median (27%), and end-systolic volume index (ESVI) above the median (79 ml/m(2)). Patients were categorized as having 0 to 1 or 2 to 3 of these factors. RESULTS Patients with 2 to 3 prognostic factors (n = 636) had reduced mortality with CABG compared with those who received OMT (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56 to 0.89; p = 0.004); CABG had no such effect in patients with 0 to 1 factor (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.44; p = 0.591). There was a significant interaction between the number of factors and the effect of CABG on mortality (p = 0.022). Although 30-day risk with CABG was higher, a net beneficial effect of CABG relative to OMT was observed at >2 years in patients with 2 to 3 factors (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.75; p<0.001) but not in those with 0 to 1 factor (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.31; p = 0.535). CONCLUSIONS Patients with more advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy receive greater benefit from CABG. This supports the indication for surgical revascularization in patients with more extensive CAD and worse myocardial dysfunction and remodeling. (Comparison of Surgical and Medical Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease [STICH]; NCT00023595).

Post-myocardial infarction biventricular pseudoaneurysm with bidirectional shunt

A patient (age 70s) presented with gradual exacerbation of chronic heart failure symptoms. The patient had a history of myocardial infarction of inferior wall and failed attempt of primary right coronary artery angioplasty 2 years earlier. On admission, auscultation revealed the presence of loud pansystolic murmur. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination showed …

752 Aortic wall thickness and pulsatility - do they represent the same aspect of atherosclerosis?

diastole. Study group consisted of 38 consecutive patients referred for the routine TEE. Thoracic aorta was scanned by rotational 3-D TEE. Reformatted datasets were reviewed and the lumen-intima and media-adventitia interfaces were determined. Serial volumetric calculations of 2 cm segments at three levels of the thoracic aorta were performed. The volume of lumen of two-centimeter segments measured at three levels of the thoracic aorta (30 cm, 35 cm and 40 cm from incisors) varied from 7.3 to 17.6 cm 3 (mean 12.0±3.2, 11.5±3.1 and 10.9±2.5 cm3 respectively). The volume of intimamedia complex varied from 0.5 to 5.0 cm 3 (mean 1.8±1.0, 1.6±1.0 and 1.7±1.1 cm3 respectively). Aortic pulsation defined as the difference between the largest and the smallest lumen volume of the same aortic segment varied from 0.0 to 2.8 cm3 (mean 1.3±0.5, 1.1±0.7 and 1.1±0.6 cm3 respectively). The intima-media complex volume was correlated with the aortic lumen volume (R2=0.55, p<0.001), but not with the aortic pulsation (R2=0.02, p=NS). The differences in the measurements of aortic lumen volume, aortic pulsation and intima-media complex volume by the same observer were 0.22±0.10 cm3, 0.07±0.08 cm3 and 0.21±0.06 cm3 respectively, whereas by two observers 0.23±0.15 cm3 ,0 .14 ±0.13 cm3 and 0.17±0.03 cm3 respectively. Following risk factors were independently related to the intima-media complex volume: hypertension (p<0.001), hyperlipidemia (p=0.032) and cigarette smoking (p=0.045). Age (p<0.001), diabetes (p=0.002), masculine gender (p=0.014) and family history (p=0.014) were related to the aortic pulsation. Conclusions: Aortic intima-media complex volume and aortic pulsation represent different aspects of aortic properties and are related to different clinical risk factors of atherosclerosis.