Tanush Gupta

Hyperkalemia among hospitalized patients and association between duration of hyperkalemia and outcomes.

Introduction The aim of the study was to investigate predictors of mortality in patients hospitalized with hyperkalemia. Material and methods Data among hospitalized patients with hyperkalemia (serum potassium ≥ 5.1 mEq/l) were collected. Patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis were excluded. Results Of 15,608 hospitalizations, 451 (2.9%) episodes of hyperkalemia occurred in 408 patients. In patients with hyperkalemia, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease and heart failure were common comorbidities. Acute kidney injury (AKI) and metabolic acidosis were common metabolic abnormalities, and 359 patients (88%) were on at least one drug associated with hyperkalemia. Mean duration to resolution of hyperkalemia was 12 ±9.9 h. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (HR = 1.59), highest potassium level (HR = 0.61), tissue necrosis (HR = 0.61), metabolic acidosis (HR = 0.77), and AKI (HR = 0.77) were significant independent determinants of duration prior to hyperkalemia resolution. Tissue necrosis (OR = 4.55), potassium supplementation (OR = 5.46), metabolic acidosis (OR = 4.84), use of calcium gluconate for treatment of hyperkalemia (OR = 4.62), AKI (OR = 3.89), and prolonged duration of hyperkalemia (OR = 1.06) were significant independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions Tissue necrosis, potassium supplementation, metabolic acidosis, calcium gluconate for treatment of hyperkalemia, AKI and prolonged duration of hyperkalemia are independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Thirty-Day Readmissions after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States: Insights from the Nationwide Readmissions Database

Background— Readmissions after cardiac procedures are common and contribute to increased healthcare utilization and costs. Data on 30-day readmissions after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are limited. Methods and Results— Patients undergoing TAVR (International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision-CM codes 35.05 and 35.06) between January and November 2013 who survived the index hospitalization were identified in the Nationwide Readmissions Database. Incidence, predictors, causes, and costs of 30-day readmissions were analyzed. Of 12 221 TAVR patients, 2188 (17.9%) were readmitted within 30 days. Length of stay >5 days during index hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–1.73), acute kidney injury (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05–1.44), >4 Elixhauser comorbidities (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03–1.46), transapical TAVR (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05–1.39), chronic kidney disease (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04–1.39), chronic lung disease (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01–1.34), and discharge to skilled nursing facility (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01–1.34) were independent predictors of 30-day readmission. Readmissions were because of noncardiac causes in 61.8% of cases and because of cardiac causes in 38.2% of cases. Respiratory (14.7%), infections (12.8%), bleeding (7.6%), and peripheral vascular disease (4.3%) were the most common noncardiac causes, whereas heart failure (22.5%) and arrhythmias (6.6%) were the most common cardiac causes of readmission. Median length of stay and cost of readmissions were 4 days (interquartile range, 2–7 days) and

Antiarrhythmic properties of ranolazine: A review of the current evidence

8302 (interquartile range,

Association of Chronic Renal Insufficiency With In‐Hospital Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

5229–16 021), respectively. Conclusions— Thirty-day readmissions after TAVR are frequent and are related to baseline comorbidities, TAVR access site, and post-procedure complications. Awareness of these predictors can help identify and target high-risk patients for interventions to reduce readmissions and costs.

Comparison of local versus general anesthesia in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A meta-analysis

Ranolazine was developed as an antianginal agent and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006 for use in chronic stable angina pectoris. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that it also has antiarrhythmic properties based on the frequency-dependent blockade of peak sodium channel current (peak INa) and rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) in the atria and blockade of late phase of the inward sodium current (late INa) in the ventricles. Recent clinical studies have revealed the efficacy of ranolazine in prevention of atrial fibrillation in patients with acute coronary syndromes, prevention as well as conversion of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery, conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation and maintenance of sinus rhythm in recurrent atrial fibrillation. Ranolazine has also been shown to reduce ventricular tachycardia and drug-refractory implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks. The antiarrhythmic effect of ranolazine is preserved in the setting of chronic heart failure and clinical studies have demonstrated its safety in patients with heart failure. This review discusses the available preclinical and clinical data on the antiarrhythmic effects of this novel antianginal agent.

Outcomes and Temporal Trends of Inpatient Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at Centers With and Without On-site Cardiac Surgery in the United States

Background The association of chronic renal insufficiency with outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the current era of drug-eluting stents and modern antithrombotic therapy has not been well characterized. Methods and Results We queried the 2007–2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify all patients aged ≥18 years who underwent PCI. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare in-hospital outcomes among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and those without CKD or ESRD. Of 3 187 404 patients who underwent PCI, 89% had no CKD/ESRD; 8.6% had CKD; and 2.4% had ESRD. Compared to patients with no CKD/ESRD, patients with CKD and patients with ESRD had higher in-hospital mortality (1.4% versus 2.7% versus 4.4%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio for CKD 1.15, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.19, P<0.001; adjusted odds ratio for ESRD 2.29, 95% CI 2.19 to 2.40, P<0.001), higher incidence of postprocedure hemorrhage (3.5% versus 5.4% versus 6.0%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio for CKD 1.21, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.23, P<0.001; adjusted odds ratio for ESRD 1.27, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.32, P<0.001), longer average length of stay (2.9 days versus 5.0 days versus 6.4 days, respectively; P<0.001), and higher average total hospital charges (

Smoker's Paradox in Patients With ST‐Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

60 526 versus

Association Between Hospital Volume and 30-Day Readmissions Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

77 324 versus

The forgotten disease: Bilateral Lemierre’s disease with mycotic aneurysm of the vertebral artery

97 102, respectively; P<0.001). Similar results were seen in subgroups of patients undergoing PCI for acute coronary syndrome or stable ischemic heart disease. Conclusions In patients undergoing PCI, chronic renal insufficiency is associated with higher in-hospital mortality, higher postprocedure hemorrhage, longer average length of stay, and higher average hospital charges.

Staged versus index procedure complete revascularization in ST‐elevation myocardial infarction: A meta‐analysis

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is typically performed under general anesthesia (GA). However, there is increasing data supporting the safety of performing TAVR under local anesthesia/conscious sedation (LA). We performed a meta‐analysis to gain better understanding of the safety and efficacy of LA versus GA in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR.