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ACG Case Reports Journal Jul 2024ST segment elevations (STEs) on an electrocardiogram (EKG) gravitate immediate attention to the heart. However, these EKG changes can sometimes be the result of...
ST segment elevations (STEs) on an electrocardiogram (EKG) gravitate immediate attention to the heart. However, these EKG changes can sometimes be the result of noncardiac pathologies. Here, we present an interesting case of small bowel obstruction (SBO) masquerading as an inferior wall myocardial infarction. A 77-year-old woman with a history of aortic stenosis status postsurgical aortic valve replacement presented with chest pain. Workup revealed elevated high-sensitivity troponins and STE in the inferior leads. She subsequently underwent a left heart catheterization, which showed no critical plaques or stenosis. Persistent abdominal pain prompted further evaluation with a computed tomography scan of the abdomen, which demonstrated evidence of SBO. Conservative treatment with bowel decompression resulted in symptom improvement and complete resolution of the STEs on a follow-up EKG. This case underscores the importance of considering noncardiac etiologies, such as SBO, in the differential diagnosis of STE on EKG for accurate diagnosis and management.
PubMed: 38939350
DOI: 10.14309/crj.0000000000001412 -
Cureus May 2024Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is a cardiac condition that is a diagnosis of exclusion. Patients usually present with terrible chest pains suggestive of myocardial infarction,...
Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is a cardiac condition that is a diagnosis of exclusion. Patients usually present with terrible chest pains suggestive of myocardial infarction, but angiogram imaging shows no occlusion in the coronary vessels that would be suggestive of coronary artery disease. CSX is more commonly seen in women, but this case report demonstrates a different clinical presentation of CSX in a young, otherwise healthy male patient. The 38-year-old male patient presented to the emergency room with chest discomfort radiating to the left arm and to the left jaw. The chest pain started after the patient went for a jog, with the pain lasting for a couple of hours. The electrocardiogram (ECG) was abnormal, showing nonspecific ST changes and unremarkable troponin levels. The patient underwent a coronary angiogram, which was unremarkable. Three years later, the patient presented once more with chest heaviness that occurred again after going for a run. The patient's troponins were unremarkable, and an ECG test showed a new onset of AV block. Due to the ongoing chest pain, the patient received another coronary angiogram. This showed that the coronary vessels had no indications of occlusion. The patient was discharged and scheduled to follow up with their cardiologist for an extensive discussion about medications for their condition. This case report should bring awareness of the classical presentation of this disease in an uncommon population group and a way to identify this syndrome once exclusions have been made on previous hospitalizations.
PubMed: 38939250
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61255 -
JACC. Advances Jul 2023Portable, smartphone-sized electrocardiography (ECG) has the potential to reduce time to treatment for patients suffering acute cardiac ischemia, thereby lowering the...
BACKGROUND
Portable, smartphone-sized electrocardiography (ECG) has the potential to reduce time to treatment for patients suffering acute cardiac ischemia, thereby lowering the morbidity and mortality. In the UMC Utrecht, a portable, smartphone-sized, multi-lead precordial ECG recording device (miniECG 1.0, UMC Utrecht) was developed.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of the miniECG to capture ischemic ECG changes in a porcine coronary occlusion model.
METHODS
In 8 animals, antero-septal myocardial infarction was induced by 75-minute occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, after the first or second diagonal. MiniECG and 12-lead ECG recordings were acquired simultaneously before, during and after coronary artery occlusion and ST-segment deviation was evaluated.
RESULTS
During the complete occlusion and reperfusion period, miniECG showed large ST-segment deviation in comparison to 12-lead ECG. MiniECG ST-segment deviation was observed within 1 minute for most animals. The miniECG was positive for ischemia (ie, ST-segment deviation ≥1 mm) for 99.7% (Q1-Q3: 99.6%-99.9%) of the occlusion time, while the 12-lead was only positive for 79.8% (Q1-Q3: 81.1%-98.7%) of the time ( = 0.018). ST-segment deviation reached maxima of 10.5 mm [95% CI: 6.5-14.5 mm] vs 5.0 mm [95% CI: 2.0-8.0 mm] for the miniECG vs 12-lead ECG, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
MiniECG ST-segment deviation was observed early and was of large magnitude during 75 minutes of porcine transmural antero-septal infarction. The miniECG was positive for ischemia for the complete occlusion period. These findings demonstrate the potential of the miniECG in the detection of cardiac ischemia. Although clinical research is required, data suggests that the miniECG is a promising tool for the detection of cardiac ischemia.
PubMed: 38939006
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100410 -
JACC. Advances Jul 2023
PubMed: 38938999
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100433 -
JACC. Advances Jul 2023Cardiogenic shock is associated with poor clinical outcomes. There is a paucity of prospective data examining the efficacy and safety of inotropic therapy in patients...
BACKGROUND
Cardiogenic shock is associated with poor clinical outcomes. There is a paucity of prospective data examining the efficacy and safety of inotropic therapy in patients with cardiogenic shock and renal dysfunction.
OBJECTIVES
This study sought to examine the treatment effect of milrinone compared to dobutamine in relation to renal function.
METHODS
In this post hoc analysis of the DOREMI (Milrinone as Compared with Dobutamine in the Treatment of Cardiogenic Shock) trial, we examined clinical outcomes with milrinone compared to dobutamine after stratification based on baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 60 ml/min/1.73 m and acute kidney injury (AKI). The primary outcome was the composite of in-hospital death from any cause, resuscitated cardiac arrest, receipt of a cardiac transplant or mechanical circulatory support, nonfatal myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack or stroke, or initiation of renal replacement therapy.
RESULTS
Baseline eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m and AKI were observed in 78 (45%) and 124 (65%) of patients, respectively. The primary outcome and death from any cause occurred in 99 (52%) and 76 (40%) patients, respectively. eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m did not appear to modulate the treatment effect of milrinone compared to dobutamine. In contrast, there was a significant interaction between the treatment effect of milrinone compared to dobutamine and AKI with respect to the primary outcome ( interaction = 0.02) and death ( interaction = 0.04). The interaction was characterized by lower risk of primary outcome and death with milrinone compared to dobutamine in patients without, but not with, AKI.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients requiring inotropic support for cardiogenic shock, baseline renal dysfunction and AKI are common. A modulating effect of AKI on the relative efficacy of milrinone compared to dobutamine was observed, characterized by attenuation of a potential clinical benefit with milrinone compared to dobutamine in patients who develop AKI.
PubMed: 38938997
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100393 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024
PubMed: 38938871
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100947 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024Cardiogenic shock (CS) in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Frailty is a common comorbidity in patients...
BACKGROUND
Cardiogenic shock (CS) in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Frailty is a common comorbidity in patients with cardiovascular disease and is also associated with adverse outcomes. The impact of preexisting frailty at the time of CS diagnosis following AMI has not been studied.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of frailty in patients admitted with AMI complicated by CS (AMI-CS) hospitalizations and its associations with in-hospital outcomes.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2020 and identified all hospitalizations for AMI-CS. We classified them into frail and nonfrail groups according to the hospital frailty risk score cut-off of 5 and compared in-hospital outcomes.
RESULTS
A total of 283,700 hospitalizations for AMI-CS were identified. Most (70.8%) occurred in the frail. Those with frailty had higher odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR [aOR]: 2.17, 95% CI: 2.07 to 2.26, < 0.001), do-not-resuscitate status, and discharge to a skilled nursing facility compared with those without frailty. They also had higher odds of in-hospital adverse events, including intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, acute kidney injury, and delirium. Importantly, AMI-CS hospitalizations in the frail had lower odds of coronary revascularization (aOR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.53-0.58, < 0.001) or mechanical circulatory support (aOR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.85-0.93, < 0.001). Lastly, hospitalizations for AMI-CS showed an overall increase from 53,210 in 2016 to 57,065 in 2020 ( trend <0.001), with this trend driven by a rise in the frail.
CONCLUSIONS
A high proportion of hospitalizations for AMI-CS had concomitant frailty. Hospitalizations with AMI-CS and frailty had higher rates of in-hospital morbidity and mortality compared to those without frailty.
PubMed: 38938859
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100949 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is characterized by ventricular remodeling and impaired myocardial energetics. Left ventricular pressure-volume (PV)...
BACKGROUND
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is characterized by ventricular remodeling and impaired myocardial energetics. Left ventricular pressure-volume (PV) loop analysis can be performed noninvasively using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to assess cardiac thermodynamic efficiency.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was to investigate whether noninvasive PV loop parameters, derived from CMR, could predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in HFrEF patients.
METHODS
PV loop parameters (stroke work, ventricular efficiency, external power, contractility, and energy per ejected volume) were computed from CMR cine images and brachial blood pressure. The primary end point was MACE (cardiovascular death, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, myocardial infarction, revascularization, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, heart transplantation, or left ventricular assist device implantation within 5 years). Associations between PV loop parameters and MACE were evaluated using multivariable Cox regression.
RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-four HFrEF patients (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%, age 63 [IQR: 55-70] years, 79% male) who underwent clinical CMR examination between 2004 and 2014 were included. Eighty-eight patients (54%) experienced at least one MACE after an average of 2.8 years. Unadjusted models demonstrated a significant association between MACE and all PV loop parameters ( < 0.05 for all), HF etiology ( < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction ( = 0.003), global longitudinal strain ( < 0.001), and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide level ( = 0.001). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and HF etiology, ventricular efficiency was associated with MACE (HR: 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01-1.08) per-% decrease, = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Ventricular efficiency, derived from noninvasive PV loop analysis from standard CMR scans, is associated with MACE in patients with HFrEF.
PubMed: 38938852
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100946 -
JACC. Advances Nov 2023Extent and progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) are strong predictors of myocardial infarction and mortality.
BACKGROUND
Extent and progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) are strong predictors of myocardial infarction and mortality.
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to investigate if vitamin K2 and D supplementation can reduce CAC progression.
METHODS
A total of 389 participants were randomized to supplementation with vitamin K2 (720 μg/day) and D (25 μg/day) vs placebo in a multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial. The primary endpoint (progression of aortic valve calcification) has been reported. This study reports CAC progression in participants with no ischemic heart disease. CT scans were performed at baseline, 12, and 24 months. ΔCAC and coronary plaque volume were evaluated in the entire group and in 2 subgroups. A safety endpoint was the composite of myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and all-cause mortality.
RESULTS
In total, 304 participants (male, mean age 71 years) were identified. The intervention and placebo group both increased in mean CAC scores from baseline to 24-month follow-up (Δ203 vs Δ254 AU, = 0.089). In patients with CAC scores ≥400 AU, CAC progression was lower by intervention (Δ288 vs Δ380 AU, = 0.047). Plaque analyses showed no significant difference in progression of noncalcified plaque volume (Δ-6 vs Δ46 mm, = 0.172). Safety events were fewer in participants receiving supplementation (1.9% vs 6.7%, = 0.048).
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with no prior ischemic heart disease randomized to vitamin K2 and D supplementation had no significant reduction in mean CAC progression over a 2-year follow-up compared to placebo. Although the primary endpoint is neutral, differential responses to supplementation in those with CAC scores ≥400 AU and in safety endpoints are hypothesis-generating for future studies.
PubMed: 38938724
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100643 -
JACC. Advances Dec 2023Altered coagulation is a striking feature of COVID-19. Adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are prone to thromboembolic (TE) and bleeding complications.
BACKGROUND
Altered coagulation is a striking feature of COVID-19. Adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are prone to thromboembolic (TE) and bleeding complications.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for COVID-19 TE/bleeding complications in ACHD patients.
METHODS
COVID-19-positive ACHD patients were included between May 2020 and November 2021. TE events included ischemic cerebrovascular accident, systemic and pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and intracardiac thrombosis. Major bleeding included cases with hemoglobin drop >2 g/dl, involvement of critical sites, or fatal bleeding. Severe infection was defined as need for intensive care unit, endotracheal intubation, renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or death. Patients with TE/bleeding were compared to those without events. Factors associated with TE/bleeding were determined using logistic regression.
RESULTS
Of 1,988 patients (age 32 [IQR: 25-42] years, 47% male, 59 ACHD centers), 30 (1.5%) had significant TE/bleeding: 12 TE events, 12 major bleeds, and 6 with both TE and bleeding. Patients with TE/bleeding had higher in-hospital mortality compared to the remainder cohort (33% vs 1.7%; < 0.0001) and were in more advanced physiological stage ( = 0.032) and NYHA functional class ( = 0.01), had lower baseline oxygen saturation ( = 0.0001), and more frequently had a history of atrial arrhythmia ( < 0.0001), previous hospitalization for heart failure ( < 0.0007), and were more likely hospitalized for COVID-19 ( < 0.0001). By multivariable logistic regression, prior anticoagulation (OR: 4.92; 95% CI: 2-11.76; = 0.0003), cardiac injury (OR: 5.34; 95% CI: 1.98-14.76; = 0.0009), and severe COVID-19 (OR: 17.39; 95% CI: 6.67-45.32; < 0.0001) were independently associated with increased risk of TE/bleeding complications.
CONCLUSIONS
ACHD patients with TE/bleeding during COVID-19 infection have a higher in-hospital mortality from the illness. Risk of coagulation disorders is related to severe COVID-19, cardiac injury during infection, and use of anticoagulants.
PubMed: 38938489
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100701