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BMC Pulmonary Medicine Jun 2024Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive pulmonary vascular disorder with substantial morbidity and mortality, also a disease...
BACKGROUND
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive pulmonary vascular disorder with substantial morbidity and mortality, also a disease underdiagnosed and undertreated. It is potentially curable by pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) in patients with surgically accessible thrombi. Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and targeted medical therapy are options for patients with distal lesions or persistent/recurrent pulmonary hypertension after PEA. There is an urgent need to increase the awareness of CTEPH. Qualified CTEPH centers are still quite limited. Baseline characteristics, management pattern and clinical outcome of CTEPH in China needs to be reported.
METHODS AND DESIGN
The CHinese reAl-world study to iNvestigate the manaGEment pattern and outcomes of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CHANGE) study is designed to provide the multimodality treatment pattern and clinical outcomes of CTEPH in China. Consecutive patients who are ≥ 14 year-old and diagnosed with CTEPH are enrolled. The diagnosis of CTEPH is confirmed in right heart catheterization and imaging examinations. The multimodality therapeutic strategy, which consists of PEA, BPA and targeted medical therapy, is made by a multidisciplinary team. The blood sample and tissue from PEA are stored in the central biobank for further research. The patients receive regular follow-up every 3 or 6 months for at least 3 years. The primary outcomes include all-cause mortality and changes in functional and hemodynamic parameters from baseline. The secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients experiencing lung transplantation, the proportion of patients experiencing heart and lung transplantation, and changes in health-related quality of life. Up to 31 December 2023, the study has enrolled 1500 eligible patients from 18 expert centers.
CONCLUSIONS
As a real-world study, the CHANGE study is expected to increase our understanding of CTEPH, and to fill the gap between guidelines and the clinical practice in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of patients with CTEPH. REGISTRATION NUMBER IN CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT05311072.
Topics: Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; China; Endarterectomy; Pulmonary Embolism; Chronic Disease; Angioplasty, Balloon; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Female; Combined Modality Therapy; Male; East Asian People
PubMed: 38825688
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03042-5 -
Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology May 2024Long COVID is defined as persistency of symptoms, such as exertional dyspnea, twelve weeks after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
BACKGROUND
Long COVID is defined as persistency of symptoms, such as exertional dyspnea, twelve weeks after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate ventilatory efficiency by the use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients with exertional dyspnea despite normal basal spirometry after 18 (T) and 36 months (T) from COVID-19 pneumonia.
METHODS
One hundred patients with moderate-critical COVID-19 were prospectively enrolled in our Long COVID program. Medical history, physical examination and lung high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were obtained at hospitalization (T), 3 (T) and 15 months (T). All HRCTs were revised using a semi-quantitative CT severity score (CSS). Pulmonary function tests were obtained at T and T. CPET was performed in a subset of patients with residual dyspnea (mMRC ≥ 1), at T and at T.
RESULTS
Remarkably, at CPET, ventilatory efficiency was reduced both at T (V'/V'CO slope = 31.4±3.9 SD) and T (V'/V'CO slope = 31.28±3.70 SD). Furthermore, we identified positive correlations between V'/V'CO slope at T and T and both percentage of involvement and CSS at HRCT at T, T and T. Also, negative linear correlations were found between V'/V'CO slope at T and T and DL at T and T.
CONCLUSIONS
At eighteen months from COVID-19 pneumonia, 20 % of subjects still complains of exertional dyspnea. At CPET this may be explained by persistently reduced ventilatory efficiency, possibly related to the degree of lung parenchymal involvement in the acute phase of infection, likely reflecting a damage in the pulmonary circulation.
PubMed: 38825094
DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2024.104285 -
The Journal of Pediatrics May 2024To describe the typical clinical course of reversible persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) from perinatal etiologies and compare that with the...
OBJECTIVES
To describe the typical clinical course of reversible persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) from perinatal etiologies and compare that with the clinical course of PPHN due to underlying fetal developmental etiologies.
STUDY DESIGN
This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of liveborn newborns either born or transferred to our facility for higher level of care between 2015 and 2020 with gestational age ≥35 weeks and a clinical diagnosis of PPHN in the electronic health record. Newborns with complex congenital heart disease and congenital diaphragmatic hernia were excluded. Using all data available at time of collection, newborns were stratified into 2 groups by PPHN etiology - perinatal and fetal developmental causes. Primary outcomes were age at initiation, discontinuation, and total duration of extracorporeal life support, mechanical ventilation, supplemental oxygen, inhaled nitric oxide, inotropic support, and prostaglandin E1. Our secondary outcome was age at echocardiographic resolution of pulmonary hypertension. Groups were compared by t-test. Time-to-event Kaplan Meier curves described and compared (log-rank test) discontinuation of each therapy.
RESULTS
Sixty-four (72%) newborns had perinatal etiologies whereas 24 (28%) had fetal developmental etiologies. The resolution of perinatal PPHN was more rapid compared with fetal developmental PPHN. By 10 days of age, more neonates were off inotropes (98% vs 29%, P < .01), decannulated from extracorporeal life support (100% vs 0%, P < .01), extubated (75% vs 37%, P < .01), and had echocardiographic resolution of PH (35% vs 7%, P = .02).
CONCLUSIONS
An atypical PPHN course, characterized by persistent targeted therapies in the second week of life, warrants further work-up for fetal developmental causes.
PubMed: 38823627
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114131 -
BMC Women's Health May 2024Perioperative urinary tract infections (PUTIs) are common in the United States and are a significant contributor to high healthcare costs. There is a lack of large...
INTRODUCTION
Perioperative urinary tract infections (PUTIs) are common in the United States and are a significant contributor to high healthcare costs. There is a lack of large studies on the risk factors for PUTIs after total hysterectomy (TH).
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study using a national inpatient sample (NIS) of 445,380 patients from 2010 to 2019 to analyze the risk factors and annual incidence of PUTIs associated with TH perioperatively.
RESULTS
PUTIs were found in 9087 patients overall, showing a 2.0% incidence. There were substantial differences in the incidence of PUTIs based on age group (P < 0.001). Between the two groups, there was consistently a significant difference in the type of insurance, hospital location, hospital bed size, and hospital type (P < 0.001). Patients with PUTIs exhibited a significantly higher number of comorbidities (P < 0.001). Unsurprisingly, patients with PUTIs had a longer median length of stay (5 days vs. 2 days; P < 0.001) and a higher in-hospital death rate (from 0.1 to 1.1%; P < 0.001). Thus, the overall hospitalization expenditures increased by $27,500 in the median ($60,426 vs. $32,926, P < 0.001) as PUTIs increased medical costs. Elective hospitalizations are less common in patients with PUTIs (66.8% vs. 87.6%; P < 0.001). According to multivariate logistic regression study, the following were risk variables for PUTIs following TH: over 45 years old; number of comorbidities (≥ 1); bed size of hospital (medium, large); teaching hospital; region of hospital(south, west); preoperative comorbidities (alcohol abuse, deficiency anemia, chronic blood loss anemia, congestive heart failure, diabetes, drug abuse, hypertension, hypothyroidism, lymphoma, fluid and electrolyte disorders, metastatic cancer, other neurological disorders, paralysis, peripheral vascular disorders, psychoses, pulmonary circulation disorders, renal failure, solid tumor without metastasis, valvular disease, weight loss); and complications (sepsis, acute myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, pneumonia, stroke, wound infection, wound rupture, hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, blood transfusion, postoperative delirium).
CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that identifying these risk factors can lead to improved preventive strategies and management of PUTIs in TH patients. Counseling should be done prior to surgery to reduce the incidence of PUTIs.
THE MANUSCRIPT ADDS TO CURRENT KNOWLEDGE
In medical practice, the identification of risk factors can lead to improved patient prevention and treatment strategies. We conducted a retrospective study using a national inpatient sample (NIS) of 445,380 patients from 2010 to 2019 to analyze the risk factors and annual incidence of PUTIs associated with TH perioperatively. PUTIs were found in 9087 patients overall, showing a 2.0% incidence. We found that noted increased length of hospital stay, medical cost, number of pre-existing comorbidities, size of the hospital, teaching hospitals, and region to also a play a role in the risk of UTI's.
CLINICAL TOPICS
Urogynecology.
Topics: Humans; Female; Retrospective Studies; Urinary Tract Infections; Hysterectomy; Risk Factors; Middle Aged; Incidence; Adult; Postoperative Complications; United States; Aged; Length of Stay; Perioperative Period
PubMed: 38811924
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03153-5 -
Pulmonary Circulation Apr 2024
PubMed: 38803828
DOI: 10.1002/pul2.12389 -
Pulmonary Circulation Apr 2024Pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex phenomenon resulting from multiple overlapping etiologies, including pulmonary vasoconstriction in the...
Pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex phenomenon resulting from multiple overlapping etiologies, including pulmonary vasoconstriction in the setting of chronic hemolytic anemia, diastolic dysfunction, and chronic thromboembolic disease. The presence of pulmonary hypertension of any cause in SCD confers a significant increase in mortality risk. Evidence to guide the management of patients with sickle cell disease and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is scant and largely the realm of case reports and small case series. Centered on a discussion of a complex young patient with hemoglobin hemoglobin SC who ultimately underwent treatment with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, we review the available literature to guide management and discuss and overview of treatment of CTEPH in SCD, considering the unique considerations and challenges facing patients suffering from this multisystem disease.
PubMed: 38803827
DOI: 10.1002/pul2.12362 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a common and potentially fatal cardiovascular disease that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in severe cases. When conventional...
BACKGROUND
Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a common and potentially fatal cardiovascular disease that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in severe cases. When conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures fail to achieve the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in patients with APE, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) becomes a viable therapeutic option. As an advanced life support treatment, ECMO ensures the perfusion of critical organs, providing sufficient time for interventions necessary for ROSC.
CASE INTRODUCTION
We report the case of a patient who experienced cardiac arrest due to pulmonary embolism. During the treatment, the patient received two sessions of external cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) as supportive care and experienced cerebral hemorrhage. Ultimately, the patient improved and was discharged following support from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), careful anticoagulation strategies, and intervention with balloon pulmonary angioplasty.
CONCLUSION
ECMO can serve as an important life support technology for patients with severe APE. Through a cautious anticoagulation therapy, not only was the ECMO support successfully maintained but also was further deterioration of cerebral hemorrhage effectively prevented. For patients with concurrent main pulmonary artery embolism and bleeding, balloon pulmonary angioplasty may be an option.
PubMed: 38803663
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1410134 -
Autopsy & Case Reports 2024The vasa vasorum of the large pulmonary vessels is involved in the pathology of COVID-19. This specialized microvasculature plays a major role in the biology and...
The vasa vasorum of the large pulmonary vessels is involved in the pathology of COVID-19. This specialized microvasculature plays a major role in the biology and pathology of the pulmonary vessel walls. We have evidence that thrombosis of the vasa vasorum of the large and medium-sized pulmonary vessels during severe COVID-19 causes ischemia and subsequent death of the pulmonary vasculature endothelium. Subsequent release of thrombi from the vasa interna into the pulmonary circulation and pulmonary embolism generated at the ischemic pulmonary vascular endothelium site, are the central pathophysiological mechanisms in COVID-19 responsible for pulmonary thromboembolism. The thrombosis of the vasa vasorum of the large and medium-sized pulmonary vessels is an internal event leading to pulmonary thromboembolism in COVID-19.
PubMed: 38803482
DOI: 10.4322/acr.2024.491 -
Pulmonary Circulation Apr 2024Several indices of right heart remodeling and function have been associated with survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Outcome analysis and physiological...
Several indices of right heart remodeling and function have been associated with survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Outcome analysis and physiological relationships between variables may help develop a consistent grading system. Patients with Group 1 PAH followed at Stanford Hospital who underwent right heart catheterization and echocardiography within 2 weeks were considered for inclusion. Echocardiographic variables included tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricular (RV) fractional area change (RVFAC), free wall strain (RVFWS), RV dimensions, and right atrial volumes. The main outcome consisted of death or lung transplantation at 5 years. Mathematical relationships between variables were determined using weighted linear regression and severity thresholds for were calibrated to a 20% 1-year mortality risk. PAH patients ( = 223) had mean (SD) age of 48.1 (14.1) years, most were female (78%), with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 51.6 (13.8) mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance index of 22.5(6.3) WU/m. Measures of right heart size and function were strongly related to each other particularly RVFWS and RVFAC ( = 0.82, < 0.001), whereas the relationship between TAPSE and RVFWS was weaker ( = 0.28, < 0.001). Death or lung transplantation at 5 years occurred in 78 patients (35%). Guided by outcome analysis, we ascertained a uniform set of parameter thresholds for grading the severity of right heart adaptation in PAH. Using these quantitative thresholds, we, then, validated the recently reported REVEAL-echo score (AUC 0.68, < 0.001). This study proposes a consistent echocardiographic grading system for right heart adaptation in PAH guided by outcome analysis.
PubMed: 38800494
DOI: 10.1002/pul2.12361 -
Structural Heart : the Journal of the... May 2024The interplay between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, known as right ventricular to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling, is crucial for assessing right...
Invasive Assessment of Right Ventricular to Pulmonary Artery Coupling Improves 1-year Mortality Prediction After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Anticipates the Persistence of Extra-Aortic Valve Cardiac Damage.
BACKGROUND
The interplay between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, known as right ventricular to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling, is crucial for assessing right ventricular systolic function against the afterload from the pulmonary circulation. Pulmonary artery pressure levels are ideally measured by right heart catheterization. Yet, echocardiography represents the most utilized method for evaluating pulmonary artery pressure levels, albeit with limitations in accuracy. This study therefore aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of right ventricular to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling expressed as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) related to systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) levels measured by right heart catheterization (TAPSE/sPAP) or estimated by transthoracic echocardiography (TAPSE/sPAP) in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
METHODS
Using data from a bicentric registry, this study compares TAPSE/sPAP vs. TAPSE/sPAP in predicting 1-year all-cause mortality after TAVR.
RESULTS
Among 333 patients with complete echocardiography and right heart catheterization data obtained before TAVR, their mean age was 79.8 ± 6.74 years, 39.6% were female, and general 1-year survival was 89.8%. sPAP and sPAP showed only moderate correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient : 0.53, value: <0.0001). TAPSE/sPAP was superior to TAPSE/sPAP in predicting 1-year all-cause mortality after TAVR (area under the curve: 0.662 vs. 0.569, value: 0.025). Patients with reduced TAPSE/sPAP levels (< 0.365 mm/mmHg) evidenced significantly lower 1-year survival rates than patients with preserved TAPSE/sPAP levels (81.8 vs. 93.6%, value: 0.001; hazard ratio for 1-year mortality: 3.09 [95% confidence interval: 1.55-6.17]). Echocardiographic follow-up data revealed that patients with reduced RV-PA coupling suffer from persistent right ventricular dysfunction (TAPSE: 16.6 ± 4.05 mm vs. 21.6 ± 4.81 mm in patients with preserved RV-PA coupling) and severe tricuspid regurgitation (diagnosed in 19.7 vs. 6.58% in patients with preserved RV-PA coupling).
CONCLUSIONS
RV-PA coupling expressed as TAPSE/sPAP can refine stratification of severe aortic stenosis patients into low-risk and high-risk cohorts for mortality after TAVR. Moreover, it can help to anticipate persistent extra-aortic valve cardiac damage, which will demand further treatment.
PubMed: 38799808
DOI: 10.1016/j.shj.2024.100282