Zaher Fanari

Predicting readmission risk following percutaneous coronary intervention at the time of admission

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether a prediction model based on data available early in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) admission can predict the risk of readmission. BACKGROUND Reducing readmissions following hospitalization is a national priority. Identifying patients at high risk for readmission after PCI early in a hospitalization would enable hospitals to enhance discharge planning. METHODS We developed 3 different models to predict 30-day inpatient readmission to our institution for patients who underwent PCI between January 2010 and April 2013. These models used data available: 1) at admission, 2) at discharge 3) from CathPCI Registry data. We used logistic regression and assessed the discrimination of each model using the c-index. The models were validated with testing on a different patient cohort who underwent PCI between May 2013 and September 2015. RESULTS Our cohort included 6717 PCI patients; 3739 in the derivation cohort and 2978 in the validation cohort. The discriminative ability of the admission model was good (C-index of 0.727). The c-indices for the discharge and cath PCI models were slightly better. (C-index of 0.751 and 0.752 respectively). Internal validation of the models showed a reasonable discriminative admission model with slight improvement with adding discharge and registry data (C-index of 0.720, 0.739 and 0.741 respectively). Similarly validation of the models on the validation cohort showed similar results (C-index of 0.703, 0.725 and 0.719 respectively). CONCLUSION Simple models based on available demographic and clinical data may be sufficient to identify patients at highest risk of readmission following PCI early in their hospitalization.

Long-term use of dual antiplatelet therapy for the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND The potential benefit of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events is unclear. Data from different randomized controlled trials (RCT) using different agents in different subgroups showed inconsistent results. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis from RCTs that tested different prolonged durations of DAPT for secondary prevention. Long term DAPT arm was defined as those receiving DAPT for more than 12months. Long-term aspirin arm was defined as those receiving either aspirin alone long term or DAPT for less than 12months. RESULTS The use of long term DAPT was associated with a significant decrease in composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke (6.08% vs. 6.71%; odds ratio OR=0.86 [0.78-0.94]; P=0.001). This reduction of death, MI and stroke was mainly noticed in patients with prior MI or stroke, but not with PAD or multiple risk factors. The reduction was seen with post PCI patients with prasugrel and only in those with prior MI with clopidogrel and ticagrelor. Long-term use of DAPT was associated with significant increase in major bleeding (1.47% vs. 0.88%; OR=1.65 [1.23-2.21]; P=0.001). CONCLUSION Long-term use of DAPT for secondary prevention is associated with lower risk of death, MI and stroke beneficial especially in patients with prior MI and stroke, but it is associated with increased risk of bleeding. Prolonging DAPT requires careful assessment of the trade-off between ischemic and bleeding complications and should probably be reserved for patients with higher risk for atherothrombotic events.

Cost-effectiveness of transcatheter versus surgical management of structural heart disease ☆

Transcatheter management of valvular and structural heart disease is the most growing aspect of interventional cardiology. While the early experience was limited to patients who were not candidate for surgery, the continuous improvement in the efficacy and safety expanded its use to different degree depending on the procedure and the disease involved. The cost of these procedures is a major concern for health care in developed world. Cost-effectiveness of these transcatheter structural procedures varies depending on the procedure itself, the burden of the underlying disease, the feasibility and cost of both the Transcatheter and surgical procedures. In this review, we turn now to a specific discussion of the medical economics of percutaneous valvular and structural interventions.

Impact of a Multidisciplinary Team Approach Including an Intensivist on the Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients in the Cardiac Care Unit

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of integrating a medical intensivist into a cardiac care unit (CCU) multidisciplinary team on the outcomes of CCU patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2239 CCU admissions between July 1, 2011, and July 1, 2013, which constituted patients admitted in the 12 months before and 12 months after the introduction of intensivists into the CCU multidisciplinary team. This team included a cardiologist, a medical intensivist, medical house staff, nurses, a pharmacist, a dietitian, and physical and respiratory therapists. The primary outcome was CCU mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital mortality, CCU length of stay, hospital length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS After the implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach, there was a significant decrease in both adjusted CCU mortality (3.5% vs 5.9%; P=.01) and hospital mortality (4.4% vs 11.1%; P<.01). A similar impact was observed on adjusted mean CCU length of stay (2.5±2.0 vs 2.9±2.0 days; P<.01), adjusted mean hospital length of stay (7.0±4.5 vs 7.5±4.5 days; P<.01), and adjusted mean ventilation duration (2.0±1.0 vs 4.3±2.5 days; P<.01). CONCLUSION The implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach in which an intensivist and a cardiologist comanage the critical care of CCU patients is feasible and may result in better patient outcomes.

CRT-700.26 The Impact of Gradient and Flow on the Outcomes of TAVR in Severe Aortic Stenosis with Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

While transaortic flow and gradient are important determinant of prognosis in patients with severe aortic stenosis treated medically or with surgical aortic valve replacement, it is unclear whether these echocardiographic values are still predictive of outcomes in patients with severe aortic

Inadequacy of pulse oximetry in the catheterization laboratory. An exploratory study monitoring respiratory status using arterial blood gases during cardiac catheterization with conscious sedation

BACKGROUND Benzodiazepines and opioids are commonly used for conscious sedation (CS) in cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) patients. Both drugs are known to predispose to hypoxemia, apnea and decreased responsiveness to PCO2, resulting in decreased arterial pH and PO2, as well as increased PCO2. We want to determine the effects of CS on arterial blood gas (ABG) in CCL patient, and identify if pulse oximetry monitoring is adequate. METHODS We enrolled 18 subjects undergoing elective catheterization. Measurement of ABGs at one-minute intervals was done from the moment of arterial access until case end. The results of ABGs were not available to the clinician who administered sedation. Relationships of pH, PCO2, PaO2 and SaO2 were studied by plotting time series graphs. Significant changes were defined as pH <7.30, SaO2 < 90, and PCO2 > 50 mmHg. RESULTS No significant change in pH, PCO2, PaO2 and SaO2 was noted in 4/18 (22%) subjects. A significant drop in SaO2 was noted in 4/18 (22%). A significant change in PCO2 and/or pH was noted in 10/18 (55%) cases. Among the 16 (16/18) subjects receiving supplemental oxygen, 7 (7/18, 39%) had no drop in SaO2, but developed respiratory acidosis. At the end of the case, 5/18 (28%) subjects had respiratory acidosis with normal PaO2. CONCLUSION Significant hypercarbia and acidosis occurred frequently in this small study during CS in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Relying on pulse oximetry alone especially with patients on supplemental oxygen may lead to failure in detecting respiratory acidosis in a significant number of patients.

THE IMPACT OF TRANSAORTIC GRADIENT AND TRANSAORTIC FLOW ON THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC AND CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION EVALUATION OF SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION

Background: Current guidelines discourage aortic stenosis (AS) evaluation by direct pressure measurement if echocardiography (echo) is adequate. However several studies show sizable discrepancies between echo and catheterization (cath) lab measurements. We wanted to investigate the impact of both

SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF USING PRESSURE WIRE WITH DOBUTAMIN INFUSION IN THEMOYNAMIC ASSESSMENT OF LOW FLOW LOW GRADIENT AORTIC STENOSIS

Background: Current guidelines discourage aortic stenosis (AS) evaluation by direct pressure measurement if echocardiography (echo) is adequate. However several studies show sizable differences between echo and catheterization (cath) lab measurements. Dobutamine Challenge is recommended for

Endovascular repair of complex Juxtarenal aortic aneurysm using a combined fenestrated endograft and chimney technique

Chimney EVAR (CHEVAR) and Fenestrated EVAR (FEVAR) are two options for management of very complex abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). While some anatomical factors may favor one strategy over the other, there are some cases where the anatomical challenges may require using a hybrid approach. We are reporting the case of an 84-year-old male with a 6.8×5.7cm infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm that arises immediately below the level of the renal arteries and extends down to just above the iliac bifurcation with occluded celiac and inferior mesenteric arteries and severe bilateral renal artery stenosis with caudally oriented right renal and cranially oriented left renal artery. This case shows that a combined strategy with fenestrated graft and Chimney stenting is feasible for aortic aneurysm repair and may offer a reasonable option for patients with very complex aortic anatomy.

POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF USING PRESSURE WIRE IN HEMODYNAMIC ASSESSMENT OF PARADOXICAL LOW FLOW, LOW GRADIENT SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION

Current guidelines discourage aortic stenosis (AS) evaluation by direct pressure measurement if echocardiography is adequate due to potential stroke risk reported in old studies. Patients with both low gradient (Gradient < 40 mm HG) and/or flow (Stroke Volume Index SVI < 35) with normal ejection