Mario Facchini

Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation for Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is a potentially lethal disease characterized by adrenergically mediated ventricular arrhythmias manifested especially in children and teenagers. Beta-blockers are the cornerstone of therapy, but some patients do not have a complete response to this therapy and receive an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Given the nature of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, ICD shocks may trigger new arrhythmias, leading to the administration of multiple shocks. We describe the long-term efficacy of surgical left cardiac sympathetic denervation in three young adults with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, all of whom had symptoms before the procedure and were symptom-free afterward.

Simultaneous vs. sequential biventricular pacing in dilated cardiomyopathy: an acute hemodynamic study.

Simultaneous biventricular pacing improves left ventricular (LV) systolic performance in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and intraventricular conduction delay. We tested the hypothesis that further improvements can be obtained using sequential biventricular pacing by optimizing both atrioventricular and interventricular delays.

Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Beta-Blocker Therapy on Heart Rate Variability After First Acute Myocardial Infarction

After acute myocardial infarction (AMI), rehabilitation with physical training increases parasympathetic tone. It is unknown whether such a favorable effect of exercise on the sympathovagal balance interacts with effects of other widespread therapies, such as beta blockers. In 53 patients after a first, uncomplicated AMI, we studied the combined short- and long-term influence on heart rate variability (HRV) of rehabilitation and beta blockade. Patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n = 19) underwent rehabilitation with physical training; group 2 (n = 20) was taking beta blockers and underwent rehabilitation; group 3 (n = 14) was taking beta blockers and did not enter the rehabilitation program for logistic reasons. Patients were similar as to age, site of infarction, ejection fraction, left ventricular diameter, and baseline stress test duration. Measures of HRV (obtained from a 15-minute resting electrocardiogram) were the standard deviation of the mean RR interval (RRSD), the mean squared successive differences (MSSD), the percent of RR intervals differing >50 ms from the preceding one (pNN50), the low-(LF) and high-(HF) frequency components of the autoregressive power spectrum of the RR intervals and their ratio (LF/HF). Four weeks after AMI, there was less sympathetic predominance in groups 2 and 3 (i.e., patients taking beta blockers [p <0.05]). Rehabilitation modified HRV in groups 1 and 2 (p <0.05), with signs of increased parasympathetic tone (group 1: MSSD +25%, pNN50 +69%, LF/HF -40%; group 2: MSSD +41%, pNN50 +48%, LF/HF -39%). These changes persisted in the long term. In group 3, HRV was unchanged over time. Hence, after AMI, the effects of rehabilitation and beta blockers on HRV are not redundant: their association induces a more favorable sympathovagal balance, accelerating the recovery of a normal autonomic profile.

Recovery of cardiac autonomic responsiveness with low‐intensity physical training in patients with chronic heart failure

A gradual worsening of autonomic control of cardiovascular function accompanies the progression of heart failure. Exercise training modulates autonomic balance, and may affect the prognosis of the disease.

Improvement in Left Ventricular Diastolic Stiffness Induced by Physical Training in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND Diastolic dysfunction in long-term heart failure is accompanied by abnormal neurohormonal control and ventricular stiffness. The diastolic phase is determined by a balance between pressure gradients and intrinsic ventricular wall properties: according to a mathematical model, the latter (ie, left ventricular [LV] elastance, K(LV)) may be calculated by the formula: K(LV) = (70/[DT-20])(2) mm Hg/mL, where DT is the transmitral Doppler deceleration time. METHODS AND RESULTS In 54 patients with chronic systolic heart failure (39 men, 15 women; age 65 +/- 10 years; New York Heart Association [NYHA], 2.3 +/- 0.9; ejection fraction [EF], 32% +/- 5%), we analyzed the relationship between K(LV) and an index of neurohormonal derangement (levels of brain natriuretic peptide [BNP]), and investigated whether 3 months of physical training could modulate diastolic operating stiffness. Patients were randomized to physical training (n = 27) or to a control group (n = 27). Before and after training, patients underwent Doppler echocardiogram and cardiopulmonary stress test. At baseline, ventricular stiffness was related to BNP levels (P < .01). Training improved NYHA class, exercise performance, and estimated pulmonary pressure. BNP was reduced. Ventricular volumes, mean blood pressure, and EF remained unchanged. A 27% reduction of elastance was observed (K(LV), 0.111 +/- 0.044 from 0.195 +/- 0.089 mm Hg/mL; P < .01), whose magnitude was related to changes in BNP (P < .05) and to K(LV) at baseline (P < .01). No changes in K(LV) were observed in controls after 3 months (0.192 +/- 0.115 from 0.195 +/- 0.121 mm Hg/mL). CONCLUSIONS In heart failure, left ventricular diastolic stiffness is related to neurohormonal derangement and is modified by physical training. This improvement in LV compliance could result from a combination of hemodynamic improvement and regression of the fibrotic process.

Intermittent levosimendan infusions in advanced heart failure: favourable effects on left ventricular function, neurohormonal balance, and one-year survival.

Abstract: The role of repeated infusions of Levosimendan (LEVO) in patients with chronic advanced heart failure is still unclear. Thirty-three patients with chronic heart failure presenting clinical deterioration were randomized 2:1 to receive monthly infusions of LEVO (n = 22) or Furosemide (Controls, n = 11). At the first drugs administration, noninvasive hemodynamic evaluation was performed; before and after each infusion, we assessed NYHA class, systolic and diastolic function, functional mitral regurgitation, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. Noninvasive hemodynamic in the LEVO group showed vasodilation and decrease in thoracic conductance (index of pulmonary congestion), whereas in Controls, only a reduced thoracic conductance was observed. In the LEVO group, systolic and diastolic function, ventricular volumes, severity of mitral regurgitation, and BNP levels improved over time from baseline and persisted 4 weeks after the last infusion (P < 0.01). In Controls, no change developed over time in cardiac function and BNP levels. In LEVO-treated patients, 1-year mortality tended to be lower than in those treated with Furosemide. In conclusion, serial LEVO infusions in advanced heart failure improved ventricular performance and favorably modulated neurohormonal activation. Multicenter randomized studies are warranted to test the effect of LEVO on long-term outcome.

Different baseline sympathovagal balance and cardiac autonomic responsiveness in ischemic and non-ischemic congestive heart failure

A profound autonomic unbalance is present in heart failure: its correlation with the etiology of the disease has never been investigated.

Transthoracic bioimpedance and brain natriuretic peptide levels accurately indicate additional diastolic dysfunction in patients with chronic advanced systolic heart failure

Diastolic dysfunction in patients with heart failure has prognostic relevance, possibly because of its relationship with worsening haemodynamic status. In the quest for simpler indexes of haemodynamic status in patients, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been proposed as a surrogate of diastolic function. To date, the value of combining BNP levels with non‐invasive haemodynamic monitoring by transthoracic electric bioimpedance (TEB) for the prediction of diastolic function has not been evaluated.

Effects of isoproterenol and amiodarone and the role of exercise in initiation of circus movement tachycardia in the accessory atrioventricular pathway.

The effects of isoproterenol on induction of circus movement tachycardia were studied in 21 patients with an accessory atrioventricular pathway. Forty-six studies were performed. Thirteen patients were studied before and during administration of isoproterenol without antiarrhythmic drugs (group A). Ten patients (including 2 from group A) were studied before and during administration of isoproterenol while receiving oral treatment with amiodarone (group B). Ability to initiate circus movement tachycardia before or during administration of isoproterenol by programmed stimulation was correlated with the relation of circus movement tachycardia to exercise in these patients. (Seven patients in group A and 7 in group B had circus movement tachycardia related to exercise.) Isoproterenol significantly shortened sinus cycle length, duration of the QRS complex during sinus rhythm, anterograde effective refractory period of the accessory pathway, and circus movement tachycardia cycle length, owing to shortening of the AH interval during the arrhythmia. Isoproterenol made initiation of circus movement tachycardia possible in patients in whom the arrhythmia could not be initiated before. However, this effect did not correlate with the relation of the spontaneously occurring circus movement tachycardia to exercise. The electrophysiologic effects produced by isoproterenol did not differ between patients with and without exercise-related tachycardia. In all patients in whom circus movement tachycardia was initiated before administration of isoproterenol, the tachycardia was still inducible during administration of that drug. It is concluded that isoproterenol facilitates initiation of circus movement tachycardia in patients with an accessory pathway, mainly by facilitating anterograde conduction over the atrioventricular node.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lung ultrasound and transthoracic impedance for noninvasive evaluation of pulmonary congestion in heart failure

Background In patients with heart failure, many indexes are available for noninvasive identification of pulmonary congestion: E/E’ at echocardiography; plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (pg/ml); number of B-lines at lung ultrasound; and transthoracic conductance [thoracic fluid content (TFC)TT = 1/&OHgr;] at impedance cardiography (ICG). Methods We obtained 75 measures from 50 patients (72 ± 10 years, NYHA 2.4 ± 0.7, ejection fraction 31 ± 7%), 25 of them studied before and after intravenous diuretics, in whom we assessed the following: E/e’ from Doppler echocardiogram; BNP plasma levels; presence and number of B-lines at lung ultrasound; and TFCTT from ICG. We determined the relationship among these indexes and their change with treatment, and compared B-lines and TFC for the diagnosis of pulmonary congestion. Finally, we considered the timing and the personnel required for performing and interpreting each test. Results A mutual relationship was observed between all the variables. After clinical improvement, changes in each variable were of similar direction and magnitude. Congestion (estimated by chest radiograph) was present in 59% of the patients: TFC value and B-line number had the best sensitivity and specificity for its detection. BNP determination and ICG assessment were performed by a nurse (15 min), and echocardiography and lung ultrasound were performed by a cardiologist (15 min). Conclusion The correlation between all indexes and their consensual change after improvement of the clinical status suggests that they all detect pulmonary congestion, and that using at least two indexes improves sensitivity and specificity. The choice among the methods may be determined by the patient characteristics or by the clinical setting.