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Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery May 2015Discordance between studies drives continued debate regarding the best management of asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation (MR). The aim of the present study was to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Discordance between studies drives continued debate regarding the best management of asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation (MR). The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of management plans for asymptomatic severe MR, and compare the effectiveness of a strategy of early surgery to watchful waiting.
METHODS
A systematic review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were excluded if they: (I) lacked a watchful waiting cohort; (II) included symptomatic patients; or (III) included etiologies other than degenerative mitral valve disease. The primary outcome of the study was all-cause mortality at 10 years. Secondary outcomes included operative mortality, repair rate, repeat mitral valve surgery, and development of new atrial fibrillation.
RESULTS
Five observational studies were eligible for review and three were included in the pooled analysis. In asymptomatic patients without class I triggers (symptoms or ventricular dysfunction), pooled analysis revealed a significant reduction in long-term mortality with an early surgery approach [hazard ratio (HR) =0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21-0.71]. This survival benefit persisted in a sub-group analysis limited to patients without class II triggers (atrial fibrillation or pulmonary hypertension) [relative risk (RR) =0.85; 95% CI: 0.75-0.98]. Aggregate rates of operative mortality did not differ between treatment arms (0.7% vs. 0.7% for early surgery vs. watchful waiting). However, significantly higher repair rates were achieved in the early surgery cohorts (RR =1.10; 95% CI: 1.02-1.18).
CONCLUSIONS
Despite disagreement between individual studies, the present meta-analysis demonstrates that a strategy of early surgery may improve survival and increase the likelihood of mitral valve repair compared with watchful waiting. Early surgery may also benefit patients when instituted prior to the development of class II triggers.
PubMed: 26309823
DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2225-319X.2015.04.01 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Feb 2019Prediction of embolic events (EEs) in infective endocarditis (IE) could inform clinical decisions, such as surgical timing. We conducted a systematic review to more...
OBJECTIVES
Prediction of embolic events (EEs) in infective endocarditis (IE) could inform clinical decisions, such as surgical timing. We conducted a systematic review to more precisely define associations between risk factors and EEs.
METHODS
We searched two bibliographic databases (1994-2018) for observational studies that reported EEs in IE patients and considered clinical, microbiological or echocardiographic risk factors. Studies that did not use Duke criteria or only investigated a subset of IE patients were excluded. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A pooled risk ratio (RR) for each risk factor was estimated using random-effects models; statistical heterogeneity was estimated using I.
RESULTS
Of 3862 unique citations, 47 cohort studies (11 215 IE cases) were included; 54 risk factors were analysed in at least two studies, with nine studies reporting other individual factors. Most studies were of high methodological quality. Major predictors of EEs were intravenous drug use (RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.32-2.17; I = 46%), Staphylococcus aureus infection (RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.45-1.86, I = 32%), mitral valve vegetation (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.11-1.37, I = 30%), and vegetation size >10 mm (RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.57-2.21, I = 48%). EE risk was also higher with human immunodeficiency virus, chronic liver disease, elevated C-reactive protein, Staphylococcus spp. infection, vegetation presence, and multiple, mobile or prosthetic mechanical valve vegetation, and lower with Streptococcus spp. infection. Most findings were unchanged in sensitivity analyses that removed studies with pulmonary EEs from the outcome.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the serious consequences of embolism, surgical evaluation may be considered in patients with these risk factors.
Topics: Echocardiography; Embolism; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Humans; Risk Factors
PubMed: 30145401
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2018.08.010 -
Canadian Respiratory Journal 2017Recent studies have reported that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients present alterations in right ventricular (RV) structure and function. However, large randomized... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have reported that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients present alterations in right ventricular (RV) structure and function. However, large randomized controlled trials evaluating the impact of OSA on the right ventricle are lacking.
METHODS
A comprehensive electronic database (PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and reference search up to October 30, 2016, was performed. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess RV structure and function in OSA patients based on conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging.
RESULTS
Twenty-five studies with 1,503 OSA patients and 796 controls were included in this study. OSA patients exhibited an increase in RV internal diameter (weighted mean difference (WMD) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) 2.49 (1.62 to 3.37); = 0.000) and RV wall thickness (WMD (95% CIs) 0.82 (0.51 to 1.13); = 0.000). Furthermore, OSA patients had a significantly elevated RV myocardial performance index (WMD (95% CI) 0.08 (0.06 to 0.10); = 0.000), decreased RV S' (WMD (95% CI) -0.95 (-1.59 to -0.32); = 0.003), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (WMD (95% CI) -1.76 (-2.73 to -0.78); = 0.000), and RV fractional area change (WMD (95% CI) -3.16 (-5.60 to -0.73); = 0.011).
CONCLUSION
OSA patients display RV dilatation, increased wall thickening, and altered RV function.
Topics: Case-Control Studies; Echocardiography; Echocardiography, Doppler; Humans; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Tricuspid Valve; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right; Ventricular Remodeling
PubMed: 28814913
DOI: 10.1155/2017/1587865 -
Journal of Cardiology Sep 2019Interventional percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) was first reported in 2000. Today, two different valves are certified for this procedure [i.e. Medtronic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Interventional percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) was first reported in 2000. Today, two different valves are certified for this procedure [i.e. Medtronic Melody valve (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) and Edwards Sapien™ valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA)]. For a decade, studies have reported an increasing risk of infective endocarditis (IE) after PPVI; as patients for PPVI are usually younger, even a low annual incidence of IE is important. However, the overall incidence and potential differences between the valves remain unclear.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed in the databases Medline, Cochrane Library, and Embase including the clinical trials register. The aim was to summarize and compare the cumulative incidence of IE after PPVI. Using a sensitivity analysis we set the incidence rates of the two valve types in ratio with a normal population.
RESULTS
A total of 967 publications were identified searching for "pulmonary valve implantation," "PPVI," and 47 publications were used for final analysis. A total 3616 patients with Melody valves and 501 with Sapien™ valves were included. IE after PPVI occurred in 214 patients with Melody valves and in 5 patients only with Sapien™ valves. The pooled incidence for Melody and Sapien™ valves was 4.9% (95% CI: 3.6-6.2) and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.3-2.3), respectively. Chi-square test was significant. The sensitivity analysis showed that the incidence rate ratio was 252.1 (95% CI: 187.6-338.6) for Melody valves and for Sapien™ valves 2.7 (95% CI: 0.8-9.2).
CONCLUSIONS
At present, there is an important difference for the risk of IE after PPVI. To reduce the risk of post PPVI endocarditis, a careful valve selection in favor of the Sapien™ valves seems to be beneficial.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Endocarditis; Female; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Pulmonary Valve; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31113702
DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2019.04.007 -
Journal of Physiotherapy Jun 2014Does preoperative intervention in people undergoing cardiac surgery reduce pulmonary complications, shorten length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) or hospital,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
QUESTION
Does preoperative intervention in people undergoing cardiac surgery reduce pulmonary complications, shorten length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) or hospital, or improve physical function?
DESIGN
Systematic review with meta-analysis of (quasi) randomised trials.
PARTICIPANTS
People undergoing coronary artery bypass grafts and/or valvular surgery.
INTERVENTION
Any intervention, such as education, inspiratory muscle training, exercise training or relaxation, delivered prior to surgery to prevent/reduce postoperative pulmonary complications or to hasten recovery of function.
OUTCOME MEASURES
Time to extubation, length of stay in ICU and hospital (reported in days). Postoperative pulmonary complications and physical function were measured as reported in the included trials.
RESULTS
The 17 eligible trials reported data on 2689 participants. Preoperative intervention significantly reduced the time to extubation (MD -0.14 days, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.01) and the relative risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications (RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.66). However, it did not significantly affect the length of stay in ICU (MD -0.15 days, 95% CI -0.37 to 0.08) or hospital (MD -0.55 days, 95% CI -1.32 to 0.23), except among older participants (MD -1.32 days, 95% CI -2.36 to -0.28). When the preoperative interventions were separately analysed, inspiratory muscle training significantly reduced postoperative pulmonary complications and the length of stay in hospital. Trial quality ranged from good to poor and considerable heterogeneity was present in the study features. Other outcomes did not significantly differ.
CONCLUSION
For people undergoing cardiac surgery, preoperative intervention reduces the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications and, in older patients, the length of stay in hospital.
Topics: Aged; Breathing Exercises; Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Incidence; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic; Postoperative Complications; Preoperative Care; Respiratory Insufficiency; Respiratory Tract Infections; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 24952833
DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2014.04.002 -
Catheterization and Cardiovascular... Apr 2014To examine acute and mid-term patient outcomes following the hybrid approach to pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) compared with the standard... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
OBJECTIVES
To examine acute and mid-term patient outcomes following the hybrid approach to pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) compared with the standard surgical approach.
BACKGROUND
A subset of PA-IVS patients with the prospect of biventricular circulation typically undergo surgical or transcatheter right ventricular (RV) outflow tract opening. A recently described hybrid procedure, involving perventricular pulmonary valve perforation, was shown to be safe and effective in single-center series.
METHODS
A single-center retrospective review of all patient with PA-IVS who underwent either surgical or hybrid RV decompression between January 2002 and December 2011 was completed and acute and mid-term patient outcomes were compared between the surgical and hybrid cohorts. Additionally, a systematic literature review was completed to compare a transcatheter cohort to the hybrid cohort.
RESULTS
Seven patients with PA-IVS underwent a hybrid procedure; the procedure was technically successful in all attempts, and none required CPB. No patients required surgical re-intervention prior to hospital discharge, and none died during the study period. Surgical RV decompression was performed in 17 patients with a median CPB time of 80 min. Patient outcomes were nearly identical between cohorts. By systematic review, the transcatheter approach has a procedural success of 75-95% but up to 75% of patients require operation in the neonatal period.
CONCLUSIONS
The hybrid approach is a safe and feasible alternative to the standard surgical and transcatheter approaches to PA-IVS. Acute and mid-term patient outcomes are comparable with those treated with a standard surgical approach and neonatal CPB is completely avoided.
Topics: Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Decompression, Surgical; Female; Heart Defects, Congenital; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Michigan; Pulmonary Atresia; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 23996932
DOI: 10.1002/ccd.25181 -
Anatolian Journal of Cardiology Oct 2022Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis is characterized by the presence of organized thrombi on cardiac valves, often associated with hypercoagulable states. There is a...
BACKGROUND
Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis is characterized by the presence of organized thrombi on cardiac valves, often associated with hypercoagulable states. There is a paucity of data regarding the predictors of mortality in patients with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. Our primary aim was to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.
METHODS
A systematic literature review of all published cases and case series was performed until May 2018 according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses statement guidelines. We applied random forest machine learning model to identify predictors of in-patient mortality in patients with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.
RESULTS
Our search generated a total of 163 patients (mean age, 46 ± 17 years; women, 69%) with newly diagnosed nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. The in-hospital mortality rate in the study cohort was 30%. Among the patients who died in the hospital, initial presentation of pulmonary embolism (12.2 vs. 2.6%), splenic (38.7 vs. 10.5%), and renal (40.8 vs. 9.6%) infarcts were higher compared to patients alive at the time of discharge. Higher rates of malignancy (71.4 vs. 39.4%, P = .0003) and lower rates of antiphospholipid syndrome (8.1 vs. 48.2%, P = .0001) were noted in deceased patients. Random forest machine learning analysis showed that older age, presence of antiphospholipid syndrome, splenic infarct, renal infarct, peripheral thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and mitral valve regurgitation were significantly associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality.
CONCLUSION
Patients admitted with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis have a high rate of in-hospital mortality. Factors including older age, presence of antiphospholipid syndrome, splenic/renal infarct, lower limb thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and mitral valve regurgitation were significantly associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.
Topics: Adult; Antiphospholipid Syndrome; Endocarditis, Non-Infective; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Myocardial Infarction; Pulmonary Embolism; Thromboembolism
PubMed: 36052565
DOI: 10.5152/AnatolJCardiol.2022.1282 -
Cardiovascular Ultrasound Jan 2014Transthoracic echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for the diagnosis of right ventricular (RV) involvement in congenital and acquired heart diseases. There... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Transthoracic echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for the diagnosis of right ventricular (RV) involvement in congenital and acquired heart diseases. There is increasing recognition of the contribution of RV dysfunction in heart diseases affecting children and adolescents, but there is insufficient information on reference intervals for the echocardiographic measurements of the right heart in children and adolescents that represent all the continental populations of the world.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review was to collate, from published studies, normative data for echocardiographic evaluation of the right heart in children and adolescents, and to identify gaps in knowledge in this field especially with respect to sub-Saharan Africans.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature search to identify studies of reference intervals for right heart measurements as determined by transthoracic echocardiography in healthy children and adolescents of school-going age. Articles were retrieved from electronic databases with a combination of search terms from the earliest date available until May 2013.
RESULTS
Reference data were available for a broad range of variables. Fifty one studies out of 3096 publications were included. The sample sizes of the reference populations ranged from 13 to 2036 with ages varying from 5 to 21 years. We identified areas lacking sufficient reference data. These included reference data for determining right atrial size, tricuspid valve area, RV dimensions and areas, the RV % fractional area change, pulmonary artery pressure gradients and the right-sided haemodynamics, including the inferior vena cava dimensions and collapsibility. There were no data for sub-Saharan African children and adolescents.
CONCLUSION
Reliable reference data are lacking for important echocardiographic measurements of the RV in children and adolescents, especially for sub-Saharan Africans.
Topics: Adolescent; Africa South of the Sahara; Age Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Echocardiography; Female; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Male; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sex Distribution; Young Adult
PubMed: 24476413
DOI: 10.1186/1476-7120-12-3 -
Cureus Feb 2024Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a progressive connective tissue disease with a broad range of clinical manifestations. We sought to establish the spectrum of structural... (Review)
Review
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a progressive connective tissue disease with a broad range of clinical manifestations. We sought to establish the spectrum of structural valvular abnormalities as cardiovascular involvement has been identified as the most life-threatening aspect of the syndrome. This was a systematic review with a meta-analysis of studies indexed in Medline from the inception of the database to November 7, 2022. Using the random-effects model, separate Forest and Galbraith plots were generated for each valvular abnormality assessed. Heterogeneity was assessed using the statistics whilst funnel plots and Egger's test were used to assess for publication bias. From a total of 35 studies, a random-effects meta-analysis approximated the pooled summary estimates for the prevalence of cardiac valve abnormalities as mitral valve prolapse 65% (95% CI: 57%-73%); mitral valve regurgitation 40% (95% CI: 29%-51%); aortic valve regurgitation 40% (95% CI: 28%-53%); tricuspid valve prolapse 35% (95% CI: 15%-55%); and tricuspid valve regurgitation 43% (95% CI: 8%-78%). Only one study reported on the involvement of the pulmonary valve (pulmonary valve prolapse was estimated at 5.3% (95% CI: 1.9%-11.1%) in a cohort of 114 patients with MFS). We believe this study provides a description of the structural valvular disease spectrum and may help inform providers and patients in understanding the clinical history of MFS in the current treatment era with its increased life expectancy.
PubMed: 38487153
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54141 -
Autopsy & Case Reports 2023Endocarditis is a rare, often fatal complication of rat bite fever caused by . Only 39 cases have been reported (including this case) as of 2022. We describe a case and...
INTRODUCTION
Endocarditis is a rare, often fatal complication of rat bite fever caused by . Only 39 cases have been reported (including this case) as of 2022. We describe a case and aim to perform this entit's first systematic literature review.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review in CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS. The terms used were terms used were (but not limited to) rat bite fever, , and endocarditis. We included all abstracts and articles with patients with echocardiographic or histologic-proven endocarditis. In case of discordance, a third reviewer was involved. Our protocol was submitted to PROSPERO (CRD42022334092). We also performed searches for studies on the reference list of included articles.
RESULTS
We retrieved 108 and included 36 abstracts and articles. A total of 39 patients (including our report) were identified. The mean age was 41.27, and 61.5% were males. The most common findings were fever, murmur, arthralgias, fatigue, splenomegaly, and rash. Underlying heart disease was present in 33%. Exposure to rats was noted in 71.8% of patients, with 56.4% recalling a rat bite. Anemia was seen in 57%, leukocytosis in 52%, and elevated inflammatory markers in 58% that had lab work performed. The mitral valve was most affected, followed by the aortic, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves. Surgical intervention was required in 14 (36%) cases. Of those, 10 required valve replacement. Death was reported in 36% of cases. Unfortunately, the literature available is limited to case series and reports.
CONCLUSION
Our review allows clinicians to suspect better, diagnose, and manage Streptobacillary endocarditis.
PubMed: 37101553
DOI: 10.4322/acr.2023.423