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Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2020 Jun 3;145(11):710-715. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Kardiologie, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening disease and the third most frequent cardiovascular cause of death after stroke and myocardial infarction. The annual incidence is increasing. The recently published 2019 guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology integrate numerous new study findings and provide updated diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms. Read More

Curr Opin Crit Care 2020 Jun 1. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Service de Réanimation Médicale Brabois, CHRU Nancy, Pôle Cardio-Médico-Chirurgical.

Purpose Of Review: Data and interventional trials on vasopressor use during cardiogenic shock are scarce. Their use is limited by their side-effects and the lack of solid evidence regarding their effectiveness in improving outcomes. In the present article, we review the current use of vasopressor therapy during cardiogenic shock. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 Aug 15;10(8):3762-3773. Epub 2019 Aug 15.

Cardiac Electrophysiology Department, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Patients with structural heart disease (SHD) are at risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT), which can be difficult to manage clinically. Many treatment options are currently available, but no single approach can be applied with 100% perfect results; often, a combination of therapies is required to achieve good control of ventricular arrhythmias. Coronary artery disease with previous myocardial infarction (MI) is the most common form of SHD presenting with VT, with scar-mediated reentry being the predominant mechanism. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2020 Jun 30;9(11):e015574. Epub 2020 May 30.

Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine Shanghai Children's Medical Center Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai China.

Background Current mammalian models for heart regeneration research are limited to neonatal apex amputation and myocardial infarction, both of which are controversial. RNAseq has demonstrated a very limited set of differentially expressed genes between sham and operated hearts in myocardial infarction models. Here, we investigated in rats whether pressure overload in the right ventricle, a common phenomenon in children with congenital heart disease, could be used as a better animal model for heart regeneration studies when considering cardiomyocyte proliferation as the most important index. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2020 May 24;26:e922277. Epub 2020 May 24.

Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, Heart Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND Imbalanced cardiac autonomic control and cardiac receptors redistribution contribute to the arrhythmogenic substrate under the myocardial infarction (MI) condition. Stimulating the auricular branch of vagus nerve (AB-VNS) has been proven to reduce post-infarction ventricular arrhythmia (VAs), but its potential mechanisms were largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether long-term intermittent low-intensity AB-VNS could produce a protective effect on modulating autonomic activities and abnormal redistribution of autonomic nerve efferent receptors in a MI canine model. Read More

World J Cardiol 2020 Apr;12(4):155-160

Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Harefield Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London UB9 6JH, United Kingdom.

Background: Often in patients with significant three-vessel or left main disease there is coexistent significant peripheral disease rendering them poor candidates for percutaneous left ventricular support during revascularization. Evidence on the management of such cases is limited.

Case Summary: We describe a case of such a patient with critical distal left main disease and chronically occluded right coronary artery who presented with chest pain and a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and had significantly impaired left ventricular function. Read More

J Card Surg 2020 May 17. Epub 2020 May 17.

Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency room visits have drastically decreased for non-COVID conditions such as appendicitis, heart attack, and stroke. Patients may be avoiding seeking medical attention for fear of catching the deadly condition or as an unintended consequence of stay-at-home orders. This delay in seeking care can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, which has not been figured in the assessment of the extent of damage caused by this pandemic. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2020 Feb;73(2):94-98

Second Department of Surgery, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan.

We report a case of patch closure of posterior type ventricular septal perforation (VSP) with posterior left ventricular aneurysm (PLVAN) through right ventricular incision. A 70-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of persistent epigastric pain. He was diagnosed with inferior acute myocardial infarction, and percutaneous coronary intervention was performed to the right coronary artery[ atrio-ventricular(AV)]. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2020 Feb;73(2):87-91

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Nagaoka Hospital, Nagaoka, Japan.

Ventricular septal perforation(VSP) is a catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction, and posterior VSP reportedly has worse outcomes. We present a case of a 79-year-old man with posterior VSP following acute myocardial infarction. He underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for acute postero-inferior myocardial infarction due to occlusion of the mid-portion of the right coronary artery. Read More

Cardiol Young 2020 May 8:1-5. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan.

We report two females with coronary artery occlusion caused by presumed Kawasaki disease that delivered children without any special treatment. After a 58-year-old female had ventricular tachycardia, a giant coronary artery aneurysm with calcification at the bifurcation of the left coronary artery and segmental stenosis of the right coronary artery were pointed out by CT angiography. She had an episode of sepsis when 3 years old. Read More

J Hypertens 2020 May 7. Epub 2020 May 7.

Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic of Cardiology, Belgrade, Serbia.

Objective: We sought to investigate the predictive value of right ventricular (RV) remodeling and 24-h blood pressure (BP) patterns on long-term cardiovascular prognosis in the initially untreated hypertensive patients.

Methods: The current study included 505 initially untreated hypertensive patients who were consequently included in this study from 2007 to 2012. All the patients underwent laboratory analysis, 24-h BP monitoring and echocardiographic examination at baseline. Read More

PLoS One 2020 4;15(5):e0232374. Epub 2020 May 4.

Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major healthcare challenge contributing to high morbidity and mortality. Treatment options are still limited, mainly due to insufficient understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Further research and the development of reliable animal models resembling the human disease phenotype is therefore necessary to develop novel, innovative and ideally causal therapies. Read More

JACC Case Rep 2020 May 1. Epub 2020 May 1.

Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology.

A 58 year old woman was admitted with symptoms of COVID-19. She subsequently developed mixed shock and echocardiogram showed mid-distal left ventricular hypokinesis and apical ballooning, findings typical for stress, or Takotsubo, cardiomyopathy. Over the next few days her left ventricular function improved, further supporting reversibility of acute stress cardiomyopathy. Read More

J Electrocardiol 2020 Apr 18;60:142-147. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Cardiovascular ICCC- Program, Research Institute Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB-Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.

The Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (FUDMI) [published simultaneously in 2018 in numerous journals including Circulation, Journal of the American College of Cardiology and European Heart Journal] focuses mainly on the distinction between non-ischemic myocardial injury and myocardial infarction (MI), along with the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance, in order to define the etiology of myocardial injury. As a consequence, there is less emphasis on updating the parts of the definition concerning the electrocardiographic (ECG) changes related to MI. Evidence of myocardial ischemia is a prerequisite for the diagnosis of MI and the ECG is the main available tool for i) detecting acute ischemia, ii) triage and iii) risk stratification upon presentation. Read More

Eur Heart J Case Rep 2020 Apr 6;4(2):1-4. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Division of Cardiology, "Città della scienza e della Salute", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Background: Stent thrombosis (ST) is a rare, but potentially fatal complication. Procedural problems, such as stent under-dimension/under-expansion or dual antiplatelet drug resistance may result into ST. These conditions are more frequent during primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Post-operative right coronary artery occlusion is a serious complication that demands acute coronary revascularization to prevent myocardial infarction. We present two cases with acute right coronary artery obstruction caused by (1) transfemoral aortic valve implantation and (2) acute type A aortic dissection. Although coronary artery bypass grafting was performed intraoperatively, right heart failure was observed in both cases. Read More

Pathol Int 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Department of Rheumatology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Ishikawa, Japan.

Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection occurring in the immunocompromised host. It is difficult to diagnose, and its cardiac involvement is extremely rare. Here, we report a 64-year-old Japanese man with a 5-year history of hemodialysis with disseminated mucormycosis causing fulminant myocarditis and pulmonary necrosis under glucocorticoid use. Read More

Kardiologiia 2020 Mar 5;60(2):33-40. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Kursk State Medical University, Kursk.

Objective: The aim of the research under consideration was to study the dynamics of a local systolic-diastolic function of patients with various ischemic heart disease (IHD) progressions after survival of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) provided there are residual stenoses of coronary arteries.

Materials And Methods:  There were 112 patients suffering from ACS who took part in the research. The diagnosis was verified (acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina) in accordance with the recommendations of European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Read More

J Electrocardiol 2020 Mar 9;60:60-66. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. Electronic address:

Background: QRS axis deviation can occur during myocardial infarction (MI); to date, little is known about the significance of extreme right axis deviation (ERAD) in the frontal plane, i.e. a shift in QRS axis between +180° and +270°, during MI. Read More

Cardiol Res 2020 Apr 10;11(2):134-137. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Department of Cardiology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ 07753, USA.

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a well-known complication of myocardial infarction (MI) leading to significant morbidity and mortality. LVT can also lead to systemic thromboembolic events causing threatening limb ischemia. We report a rare case of critical bilateral limb ischemia that resulted from peripheral embolization of LVT post MI, which was managed successfully by emergent surgical intervention and anticoagulation. Read More

J Biophotonics 2020 Apr 4:e202000003. Epub 2020 Apr 4.

Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.

Cardiac optogenetics facilitates the painless manipulation of the heart with optical energy and was recently shown to terminate ventricular tachycardia (VT) in explanted mice heart. This study aimed to evaluate the optogenetic-based termination of induced VT under ischemia in an open-chest rat model and to develop an optimal, optical-manipulation procedure. VT was induced by burst stimulation after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and the termination effects of the optical manipulation, including electrical anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) and spontaneous recovery, were tested. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2020 Apr 1;13(1):196. Epub 2020 Apr 1.

Cardiology Department, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt.

Objectives: Right ventricular dysfunction impacts the prognosis of various heart diseases. We set-out to examine which right ventricular functional parameters after STEMI and NSTEMI have prognostic value. Of 297 eligible participants, 266 (149 STEMI and 117 NSTEMI) completed follow-up. Read More

Egypt Heart J 2020 Mar 16;72(1):11. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Seyyed-al-Shohada Heart Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, 17 Shahrivar Street, Urmia, Iran.

Background: Different techniques have been described to repair post myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR), each method may result in residual shunting, bleeding, and suboptimal left ventricular (LV) performance secondary to change in LV geometry. The aim of this report is to describe early and mid-term results of sandwich technique through right ventricle in five consecutive patients.

Case Presentation: Five consecutive patients (3 women and 2 men) with VSR (mean age 62. Read More

Int Heart J 2020 Mar 14;61(2):400-403. Epub 2020 Mar 14.

Department of Cardiology, Showa General Hospital.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a temporal dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) due to psychological or physiological stress; however, it rarely causes LV thrombus. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman who developed LV thrombi due to TC despite anticoagulation therapy. The thrombi caused acute systemic infarction, with the most severe occlusion being in the right renal artery. Read More

AACN Adv Crit Care 2020 Mar;31(1):49-56

Barbara Leeper is Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cardiovascular Services, Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75252

Interest in the right ventricle has increased because of advances in pulmonary hypertension treatment, improved diagnostic technology, and increased implantation of left ventricular assist devices and other mechanical circulatory assist devices. Right ventricular dysfunction is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. The purpose of this article is to describe the normal structure and function of the right ventricle, causes of right ventricular dysfunction leading to right ventricular failure, diagnostic hemodynamic assessments, and management of right ventricular failure in the critical care unit. Read More

Tex Heart Inst J 2020 Feb 1;47(1):44-46. Epub 2020 Feb 1.

Coronary artery anomalies can provoke intermittent vasospasm and endothelial dysfunction, which can cause takotsubo cardiomyopathy. However, in takotsubo cardiomyopathy, apical myocardial regions are typically affected, and these do not correlate with a specific epicardial coronary distribution territory. We report the case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with acute respiratory failure and suspected myocardial infarction. Read More

Cardiovasc Pathol 2020 Jan 15;47:107203. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Forensic Medicine Department, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Galle, Sri Lanka. Electronic address:

A 62-year-old male patient was pronounced dead on admission to the tertiary care hospital. The victim had right ventricular STEMI three years ago. The autopsy showed pericardial tamponade due to the rupture of an acute myocardial infarction of the right ventricle. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Feb;99(9):e19288

Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia.

Rationale: Acute myocardial infarction is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in a patient with polycythemia vera (PV). However, the benefit of various percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) technique on the patient with PV is relatively unexplored.

Patient Concern: A 46-year-old woman presented to the primary hospital complained about new-onset typical chest pain. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020 14;11:51. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Section of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine secreting tumor that, in extremely rare cases, may develop over time from a non-functional adrenal adenoma. Catecholamine excess can lead to a kind of cardiomyopathy similar to that seen in tako-tsubo syndrome (TTS). A 69 years old female with a history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and a non-functional right adrenal adenoma diagnosed 3 years earlier was referred to our center for further investigations. Read More

Cureus 2020 Jan 18;12(1):e6694. Epub 2020 Jan 18.

Cardiology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA.

Blunt cardiac injury, causing coronary artery dissection in the absence of other forms of injury to the heart or lungs is a rare occurrence. Here we present a case of a 41-year-old male who presented with right coronary artery (RCA) dissection after blunt chest trauma. The patient initially presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with an inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI). Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2020 Feb;58(2):113-117

Department of Cardiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing 100045, China.

To investigate the clinical features and improve the diagnosis and treatment of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right coronary sinus with an interarterial course (ALCA-R-IAC) between the ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery in children. A retrospective analysis of the clinical manifestation, laboratory test, radiological feature, treatment and prognosis were conducted in four female children presented with ALCA-R-IAC in Beijing Children's Hospital from November 2015 to June 2018. The four girls with onset age of 7. Read More

J Artif Organs 2020 Feb 19. Epub 2020 Feb 19.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, 6-1 Kishibeshimmachi, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan.

Conversion from peripheral extracorporeal life support (ECLS) to the central one can improve and stabilize hemodynamics in patients with refractory congestive heart failure-related multiorgan failure, whereas indication and selection of the type of the central ECLS have not been fully established. Institutional outcome of the conversion therapy was herein reviewed to verify indication and selection of three types of central ECLS. This study enrolled an institutional consecutive surgical series of 24 patients with refractory congestive heart failure under peripheral ECLS, related to fulminant myocarditis (n = 15), dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 5), or acute myocardial infarction (n = 4). Read More

Asia Ocean J Nucl Med Biol 2020 ;8(1):69-73

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

 Technetium-99m-pyrophosphate (Tc-PYP) has been used, in combination with thallium-201, to estimate the site and extent of myocardial infarcts. We report a case of acute myocardial infarction with severe coronary disease in which the distribution of Tc-PYP was extensive. A 78-year-old man presented with dyspnea, and a diagnosis of non-ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction was made. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2020 Apr 11;7(2):708-713. Epub 2020 Feb 11.

Department of Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Fondazione Cardiocentro Ticino, Lugano, Switzerland.

Despite a relative contraindication, mechanical support with Impella™ left ventricular assist device has already been described for ischaemic ventricular septal defect treatment, either as a bridge to surgery, as intraoperative mechanical haemodynamic support, or to ensure intraprocedural haemodynamic stability during device closure. We describe two cases of ventricular septal defect complicating acute myocardial infarction, where the percutaneous ImpellaCP was implanted early (differently than previously described) with the aim of preventing haemodynamic instability, while deferring surgical repair. We present a report of haemodynamic, echocardiographic, biochemical, and clinical data of two consecutive cases of ImpellaCP use, within a minimally invasive monitoring and therapeutic approach. Read More

Heart Lung Circ 2020 May 30;29(5):e43-e45. Epub 2020 Jan 30.

Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Meenakshi Hospital, Thanjavur, India.

Identification of an intramyocardial left anterior descending artery remains challenging and many techniques have been proposed for its identification. The exposure technique depends on the surgeon's familiarity and experience with it, and inadvertent right ventricular perforation during exposure on off-pump surgery results in bleeding, which requires urgent cardiopulmonary support and repair. Inadequate repair may result in continued bleeding, closure of the left anterior descending artery, and myocardial infarction. Read More

Indian Heart J 2019 Sep - Oct;71(5):387-393. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Department of Cardiology, Advanced Cardiac Centre (ACC), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India.

Objective: Delayed presentation after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS-STEMI) is commonly encountered in developing countries and is a challenging scenario because of a delay in revascularization resulting in infarction of a large amount of the myocardium. We aimed to assess the clinical characteristics, angiographic profile, and predictors of outcome in patients with a delayed presentation after CS-STEMI.

Methods: A total of 147 patients with CS-STEMI with time to appropriate medical care ≥12 h after symptom onset were prospectively recruited at a tertiary referral center. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Feb 3;10(1):1736. Epub 2020 Feb 3.

The Third People Hospital of Huizhou, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huizhou, Guangdong, China.

To compare in-hospital outcomes between left ventricular myocardial infarction (LVMI) patients with and without right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI). Patients with acute ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled and divided into LVMI with and without RVMI groups. Between-group differences and in-hospital outcomes were compared. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Feb 2;13(1). Epub 2020 Feb 2.

Cardiology, University of California San Francisco, Fresno, California, USA.

We describe a case of 49-year-old man who presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed severe global hypokinesis of left ventricle with ejection fraction of 25%-30%. Left heart catheterisation showed severe right coronary stenosis and focal 60%-70% distal left anterior descending artery stenosis. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Jan;99(5):e18981

Rationale: Congenital absence of the right coronary artery with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a rare clinical situation that may lead to death. We report a case of successful percutaneous coronary intervention for congenital absence of the right coronary artery with AMI.

Patient Concerns: A 53-year-old woman had a 7-day history of chest discomfort that had worsened over 10 hours. Read More

J Tehran Heart Cent 2019 Jul;14(3):148-149

Associate Professor of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, North Kargar Street, Tehran, Iran. 1411713138. Tel: +98 21 88029256. E-mail:

Cardiol Young 2020 Mar 22;30(3):362-368. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Nemours Cardiac Center, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA.

Background: Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital heart disease (CHD) with diverse clinical presentations despite the same anatomy. Factors determining this heterogeneous presentation are not well understood.

Method And Results: We retrospectively investigated 14 patients (12 females) who underwent surgical repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2020 Jan 21;21:e920461. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, New York Medical College, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, New York City, NY, USA.

BACKGROUND Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by a transient left ventricular dysfunction without obstructive coronary artery disease that mimics an acute myocardial infarction. The electrocardiogram findings of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy usually present with ST-segment elevation or depression, T-wave inversion, left bundle branch block or high-grade atrioventricular block. CASE REPORT This is a report of a case of a 58-year-old male diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy that occurred in the setting of an acute asthma exacerbation and psychiatric exacerbation with novel electrocardiogram findings of right bundle branch block. Read More

J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020 Jan 15;7(1). Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Cardiology Division, Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Via Giardini 1355, 41126 Baggiovara, Modena, Italy.

The identification of predictors of major cardiovascular events (MACES) represents a big challenge, especially in early and stable cardiovascular diseases. This prospective study comparatively evaluated the prognostic importance of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic function, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in a stable patient's cohort with cardiovascular risk factors. The LV ejection fraction, mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), functional mitral regurgitation (FMR), doppler tissue imaging of mitral and tricuspid annulus with systolic and diastolic peaks estimation, tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV), pulmonary velocity outflow time integral (PVTI), mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) and PVR were estimated at enrollment. Read More

AACN Adv Crit Care 2019 Dec;30(4):425-431

Cynthia Webner is Adjunct Faculty, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Malone University, Canton, Ohio; and Partner, Key Choice/Cardiovascular Nursing Education Associates, 4998 Searls Dr NW, North Canton, OH 44720

J Clin Med 2020 Jan 12;9(1). Epub 2020 Jan 12.

University Heart Center Lübeck, Medical Clinic II (Cardiology/Angiology/Intensive Care Medicine), University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck, 23538, Germany.

Right ventricular (RV) function is a known predictor of adverse events in heart failure and following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). While right atrial (RA) involvement is well characterized in pulmonary arterial hypertension, its relative contributions to adverse events following AMI especially in patients with heart failure and congestion need further evaluation. In this cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-substudy of AIDA STEMI and TATORT NSTEMI, 1235 AMI patients underwent CMR after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 15 centers across Germany ( = 795 with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and 440 with non-ST-elevation MI). Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2020 Jan 25;21(1):12-15. Epub 2019 Sep 25.

Department of Cardiology and Nephrology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan.

A 78-year-old woman was brought to our hospital for chest pain with shock status. An electrocardiogram showed ST elevation in the precordial leads. Echocardiography showed an anteroseptal wall motion abnormality with left-to-right shunt at the apex. Read More

Ann Card Anaesth 2020 Jan-Mar;23(1):106-108

Madras Medical Mission, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

The associated mortality and morbidity of posterior ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is quite high increasing to almost 80% due to severe right ventricle dysfunction and pulmonary artery hypertension. Herein, we present a case of posterior VSR due to inferior wall myocardial infarction who underwent surgery. Premature removal of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) led to hemodynamic deterioration and he was salvaged with prolonged and prompt re-institution of IABP. Read More

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2020 May 9;34(5):1377-1379. Epub 2019 Dec 9.

Tufts Medical Center, Cardiac Surgery, Boston, MA. Electronic address:

Myocardial infarctions may cause ventricular aneurysms. Ischemia-induced ventricular changes are more common in the left ventricle owing to the larger vascular supply, greater volume of myocardium, and increased intra-ventricular pressure. Ischemia-induced right ventricular free wall abnormalities are rare owing to the lower ventricular pressure. Read More

Rev Cardiovasc Med 2019 Dec;20(4):267-272

Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, 5501 Old York Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA.

Worsening renal function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is associated with poor outcomes. Pulmonary arterial capacitance is a novel right heart catheterization derived hemodynamic metric representing pulmonary arterial tree distensibility and right ventricle afterload. Given the strong association between heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and kidney function, the goal of this study is to investigate the correlation between Pulmonary arterial capacitance and long-term renal function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Read More

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2019 Dec 11. Epub 2019 Dec 11.

Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study describes the largest North American single-institution experience with adult patients requiring multiple extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) runs in the same admission and aims to describe outcomes of survival and complication rates in this patient population.

Design: A retrospective chart review-based study in a single quaternary care center of venoarterial (VA) ECMO patients cannulated multiple times on ECMO support to assess for outcomes and survival (both of ECMO therapy and survival to discharge).

Setting: Single quaternary academic center for ECMO. Read More