Sandeep Basavarajaiah

Ethnic Differences in Left Ventricular Remodeling in Highly-Trained Athletes : Relevance to Differentiating Physiologic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy From Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate ethnic differences in left ventricular (LV) remodeling between highly-trained athletes of African/Afro-Caribbean (black) and Caucasian (white) athletes. BACKGROUND The upper limits of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are established in white athletes and aid the differentiation of physiologic LVH from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, there are few data regarding LV remodeling in black athletes, in whom deaths from HCM are more prevalent. METHODS Between 2003 and 2007, 300 nationally ranked black male athletes (mean age 20.5 years) underwent 12-lead electrocardiogram and 2-dimensional echocardiography. The results were compared with 150 black and white sedentary individuals and 300 highly-trained white male athletes matched for age, size, and sport. RESULTS Black athletes exhibited greater LV wall thickness and cavity size compared with sedentary black and white individuals. Black athletes had greater LV wall thickness compared with white athletes (11.3 +/- 1.6 mm vs. 10 +/- 1.5 mm; p < 0.001). In absolute terms, 54 black athletes (18%) had LV wall thickness >12 mm compared with 12 white athletes (4%), and 3% of black athletes exhibited LV wall thickness >/=15 mm compared with none of the white athletes. Black athletes with LVH displayed an enlarged LV cavity and normal diastolic function. CONCLUSIONS Black athletes develop a greater magnitude of LVH compared with white athletes; therefore, extrapolation of conclusions derived from white athletes has the potential of generating false-positive diagnoses of HCM in black athletes.

Efficacy of personal symptom and family history questionnaires when screening for inherited cardiac pathologies: the role of electrocardiography

Aims: This study sought to confirm the efficacy of using resting 12-lead ECG alongside personal symptom and family history questionnaires and physical examination when screening for diseases with the potential to cause sudden cardiac death in the young. Methods and results: 1074 national and international junior athletes (mean age 15.8 (SD 0.7) years, range 10 to 27) and 1646 physically active schoolchildren (16.1 (SD 2.1) years, range 14 to 20) were screened using personal and family history questionnaires, physical examination and resting 12-lead ECG. Nine participants with a positive diagnosis of a disease associated with sudden cardiac death were identified. None of the participants diagnosed with a disease associated with sudden cardiac death were symptomatic or had a family history of note. Conclusion : Family history and personal symptom questionnaires alone are inadequate to identify people with diseases associated with sudden cardiac death. Use of the 12-lead ECG is essential when screening for cardiac pathology in the young.

Prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in highly trained athletes relevance to pre-participation screening.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine the prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in elite athletes. BACKGROUND Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is considered to be the most common cause of exercise-related sudden death in young athletes. The prevalence of HCM in elite athletes has never been reported but has important implications with regard to pre-participation screening for the disorder. METHODS Between 1996 and 2006, 3,500 asymptomatic elite athletes (75% male) with a mean age of 20.5 +/- 5.8 years (range 14 to 35 years) underwent 12-lead electrocardiography and 2-dimensional echocardiography. None had a known family history of HCM. RESULTS Of the 3,500 athletes, 53 (1.5%) had left ventricular hypertrophy (mean 13.6 +/- 0.9, range 13 to 16), and of these 50 had a dilated left ventricular cavity with normal diastolic function to indicate physiological left ventricular hypertrophy. Three (0.08%) athletes with left ventricular hypertrophy had a nondilated left ventricular cavity and associated deep T-wave inversion that could have been consistent with HCM. However, none of the 3 athletes had any other phenotypic features of HCM on further noninvasive testing and none had first-degree relatives with features of HCM. One of the 3 athletes agreed to detrain for 12 weeks, which showed resolution of electrocardiography and echocardiographic changes confirming physiologic left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of HCM in highly trained athletes is extremely rare. Structural and functional changes associated with HCM naturally select out most individuals from competitive sports. Screening athletes with echocardiography is not cost effective. However, electrocardiography is useful in selecting out those individuals who may have pathological left ventricular hypertrophy for subsequent echocardiography.

PREVALENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF T-WAVE INVERSIONS IN PREDOMINANTLY CAUCASIAN ADOLESCENT ATHLETES

AIMS Athletic activity is associated with electrocardiographic T-wave inversions in some adults, resembling those observed in cardiomyopathy. The prevalence and significance of T-wave inversions in adolescent athletes, the group most vulnerable to exercise-related sudden death from cardiomyopathy, is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS This study evaluated 1710 adolescent athletes and 400 healthy controls. Subjects with T-wave inversions underwent intensive cardiac investigations to identify a potential cause. There was no significant difference in the overall prevalence of T-wave inversions between athletes and controls (4 vs. 3%; P = 0.46). T-wave inversions in leads V1-V3 were largely confined to athletes and controls aged <16 years. Only 0.1% of athletes aged >or=16 years exhibited T-wave inversions beyond V2. T-wave inversions in the inferior and/or lateral leads and deep T-wave inversions occurred infrequently in athletes (1.5 and 0.8%, respectively) and were associated with a high prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy or congenital cardiac anomalies. Despite intensive investigations, no athlete was diagnosed with a cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSIONS T-wave inversions in V1-V3 are relatively common in athletes <16 years and probably represent the juvenile electrocardiogram pattern. In adolescent athletes, T-wave inversions beyond V2 if >or=16 years, T-wave inversions in the inferior/lateral leads and deep T-wave inversions in any lead are unusual, warranting further investigations for underlying cardiomyopathy.

Comparison of incidence and predictors of left bundle branch block after transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the CoreValve versus the Edwards valve.

Conduction disorders and permanent pacemaker implantation are common complications in patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and clinical significance of new bundle branch block in patients who underwent TAVI with the Medtronic CoreValve Revalving System (MCRS) or the Edwards SAPIEN valve (ESV). Data from 238 patients with no previous pacemaker implantation, left bundle branch block (LBBB) or right bundle branch block at baseline electrocardiography who underwent TAVI with either MCRS (n = 87) or ESV (n = 151) bioprostheses from 2007 to 2011 were analyzed. New-onset LBBB occurred in 26.5% patients (n = 63): 13.5% with the ESV (n = 20) and 50.0% with the MCRS (n = 43) (p = 0.001). Permanent pacemaker implantation was required in 12.7% of patients (n = 8) because of complete atrioventricular block (ESV n = 2, MCRS n = 4), LBBB and first degree atrioventricular block (MCRS n = 1) and new-onset LBBB associated with sinus bradycardia (MCRS n = 1). At discharge, LBBB persisted in 8.6% of ESV patients (n = 13) and 32.2% of MCRS patients (n = 28) (p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the only predictor of LBBB was MCRS use (odds ratio 7.2, 95% confidence interval 2.9 to 17.4, p <0.001). Persistent new-onset LBBB at discharge was not associated with overall (log-rank p = 0.42) or cardiovascular (log-rank p = 0.46) mortality. New-onset right bundle branch block was documented in 4.6% of patients (n = 11), with no statistically significant differences between the ESV and MCRS. In conclusion, new-onset LBBB is a frequent intraventricular conduction disturbance after TAVI with a higher incidence with the MCRS compared with the ESV. LBBB persists in most patients, but in this cohort, it was not a predictor of overall or cardiovascular mortality or permanent pacemaker implantation.

Incidence, Management, and Outcomes of Cardiac Tamponade During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Single-Center Study

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to explore the incidence, causes, and outcomes of cardiac tamponade in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). BACKGROUND Use of TAVI is increasing, but the procedure is vulnerable to complications, given the cohort of patients. Cardiac tamponade is a possible complication, and there is a scarcity of data on the incidence and outcomes of cardiac tamponade during TAVI. METHODS All patients who sustained cardiac tamponade during or post-TAVI between 2007 and 2012 were included in the study. RESULTS Of 389 patients who underwent TAVI, 17 (4.3%) had cardiac tamponade. The mean age was 82.3 ± 3.7 years, and most were women (n = 12, 70.6%). Causes of cardiac tamponade were right ventricular perforation by temporary pacemaker (9 patients, 52.9%), annular rupture or aortic dissection (4 patients, 23.5%), and tear in the left ventricular free wall caused by Amplatz stiff wire or catheters (4 patients, 23.5%). Mortality occurred in 4 patients (23.5%), and all had tamponade caused by injury to the high-pressured left-sided circulation (left ventricle and aorta). Most patients (n = 14, 82.4%) sustained cardiac tamponade during the procedure-2 patients (11.7%) within 24 h, and 1 patient after 24 h. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac tamponade during TAVI is not frequent but is associated with high mortality rates especially when left-sided structures are involved. Meticulous handling of the equipment and improvements in the safety of currently used devices could further reduce the occurrence of this complication.

Physiological left ventricular hypertrophy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in an elite adolescent athlete: role of detraining in resolving the clinical dilemma

The differentiation of physiological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can prove challenging for even the most experienced cardiologists. The case is presented of a 17 year old elite swimmer who had electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features that were highly suggestive of HCM. However, indices of diastolic function were normal and cardiopulmonary exercise testing revealed high peak oxygen consumption in keeping with physiological LVH. To resolve the diagnostic dilemma, the patient underwent detraining for eight weeks, after which, there was complete resolution of the changes seen on electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, indicating physiological LVH rather than HCM.

Sudden cardiac death in young athletes

Most cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes (<35 years) are caused by inherited cardiomyopathies, notably hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Extended follow‐up following “full‐metal jacket” percutaneous coronary interventions with drug‐eluting stents

To report very long‐term follow‐up of “Full‐Metal Jacket” (FMJ) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in long‐diffuse coronary lesions with drug‐eluting stents (DES).

Impact of residual chronic total occlusion of right coronary artery on the long-term outcome in patients treated for unprotected left main disease: the Milan and New-Tokyo registry.

Background—The presence of chronic total occlusion of the right coronary artery (CTO-RCA) in patients undergoing percutaneous interventions for unprotected left main (ULM) disease may affect the prognosis. In this study, we evaluated the immediate results and follow-up of patients with ULM-percutaneous interventions and with or without associated CTO-RCA. Methods and Results—Between March 2002 and December 2008, a total of 568 consecutive patients with ULM stenosis treated with drug-eluting stent were included in this analysis. The mean EuroScore and SYNTAX scores were 4.05±2.62 and 28.12±10.82, respectively. Of these, 522 had ULM lesions without residual CTO-RCA (493 ULM without CTO-RCA+29 ULM with treated CTO-RCA), and 46 patients had residual CTO-RCA. At 1466 days (interquartile range, 1150–1917) follow-up, the cardiac-death occurred in 41 patients (7.2%). Cardiac-death was more frequently observed in patients with ULM and residual CTO-RCA as compared with those without residual CTO-RCA (adjusted hazard ratios, 2.163 [95% confidence interval, 1.018–4.597]; P=0.045). However, target lesion revascularization occurred less frequently in patients with residual CTO-RCA (adjusted hazard ratios, 0.321 [95% confidence interval, 0.13–0.794]; P=0.014), resulting in the similar major adverse cardiovascular events rates between the 2 groups. When we analyzed patients with concomitant ULM and CTO-RCA, cardiac-death was significantly higher in patients with residual as compared with treated CTO-RCA (log-rank P=0.01) despite no difference in baseline characteristics. Conclusions—Cardiac-death occurred more frequently in patients with residual CTO-RCA as compared with those without residual CTO-RCA. These findings suggest that recanalization of CTO-RCA has significant impact on the long-term cardiac-mortality in patients undergoing ULM-percutaneous interventions probably by offering reserve coronary circulation, if in-stent restenosis were to occur in the treated left main.