514 Post-burn Malnutrition and Associated Cardiomyopathy

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S94-S95
Author(s):  
Alexis L McQuitty ◽  
Frances Brown ◽  
Mark Talon ◽  
Robert Martinez

Abstract Introduction It is known that systolic dysfunction (dilated cardiomyopathy) may occur in a high percentage of patients with large TBSA burns. The reversible myocardial depression may be due to many factors: thermal injury, sepsis, severe malnutrition. Malnutrition and delayed wound healing may occur with a combination of primary and secondary protein-energy undernutrition. Methods Serial transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic parameters were measured during perioperative care (ejection fraction, fractional shortening, pericardial fluid) in 8 patients with evidence of malnutrition (low BMI, low albumin and prealbumin, muscle wasting) and a delayed presentation to the hospital. Initial echocardiography was performed post-injury day 30 -142; follow-up exams were performed in some patients at 2 years post-injury. Acutely-injured patients or those with sepsis were excluded. Results From 2015–2017, echocardiographic measurements were obtained in 8 patients, ages 7–21. The presenting TBSA ranged from 30–82% and included flame injury, electrical burns, and 1 case of pemphigus vulgaris. The initial ejection fraction ranged from 12–45% in patients with a BMI range of 10–25. The mean initial albumin was 2g/dL; the mean prealbumin was 9.5mg/dL. Two patients had mild to moderate pericardial effusions, which resolved after 1 month of proper nutrition. Selenium deficiency was noted in 1 patient. Four patients required perioperative short-term dobutamine. Conclusions Patients presenting with malnutrition and impaired wound healing all had evidence of cardiomyopathy; however, the degrees of systolic dysfunction varied significantly. BMI, albumin, and prealbumin all had a strong correlation with the degree of myocardial depression. Despite the lower ejection fractions, many patients maintained an adequate cardiac index and did not require inotropic medications. With time and adequate nutrition, cardiac function improved, although many remained with mild dysfunction in the first year. Applicability of Research to Practice This case series demonstrates the continued need for early recognition of malnutrition and cardiomyopathy in this patient population and the need for early intervention. Echocardiographic diagnosis may improve acute perioperative care. In addition, future studies are needed to determine the chronic cardiac effects of reversible dilated cardiomyopathy. Nutrition, refeeding, and perioperative management require a multidisciplinary team.

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S108-S108
Author(s):  
Alexis L McQuitty ◽  
Frances Brown ◽  
Deepak K Ozhathil ◽  
Erin Sreshta ◽  
Mark D Talon

Abstract Introduction It is known that systolic dysfunction (dilated cardiomyopathy) may occur in a high percentage of patients with large TBSA burns. The reversible myocardial depression may be due to many factors: thermal injury, sepsis, severe malnutrition. Monitoring nutritional status is an integral part of improving post-burn cardiomyopathy. Perioperative echocardiography can be used to assess the degree of cardiac dysfunction and alter treatment in these patients. Methods Serial echocardiographic parameters were measured (ejection fraction, fractional shortening, pericardial fluid) in 4 patients with evidence of malnutrition (low BMI, low albumin and prealbumin, muscle wasting), delayed wound healing, and a late presentation to the hospital. Initial echocardiography was performed post-injury day 30 -142; follow-up exams were performed in some patients up to 2 years post-injury. Acutely injured or septic patients were excluded. Results Echocardiographic measurements were obtained in 4 patients, ages 7–21. The TBSA ranged from 33–95% and included flame injury and electrical burns. The initial ejection fraction ranged from 12–38% in patients with a BMI range of 10–16. The mean initial albumin was 1.65g/dL; the mean prealbumin was 10.8mg/dL. Selenium deficiency was noted in 1 patient. Dobutamine was required intraoperatively in several patients. Conclusions Patients presenting with malnutrition and impaired wound healing all had evidence of cardiomyopathy of varying degrees. However, the degree of systolic dysfunction varied significantly. Chronic surgical grafting was used to manage burn wounds, while slow nutritional rehabilitation normalized the patient’s BMI with careful avoidance of refeeding syndrome. As exemplified by serial echocardiography, one patient’s EF improved over 1 year from 12% to 50–55% as the nutritional status also improved, demonstrated by the normalization of his BMI. Despite the lower ejection fractions, many patients maintained an adequate cardiac index and required only short-term inotropic agents. Intraoperative and serial echocardiography allowed for continued monitoring and alteration of the heart failure medication regimens if required. With time and adequate nutrition, cardiac function improved, although many remained with mild dysfunction in the first year.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Becker ◽  
C P Allaart ◽  
M Wubben ◽  
J H Cornel ◽  
A C Van Rossum ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), diagnosis and prognosis is based on left ventricular function. Although concomitant right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is frequently observed, the underlying mechanism is currently not fully understood. Purpose We aimed to describe the characteristics of right ventricular function in DCM patients with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging using cine and late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. Methods Patients with DCM and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction (EF) <50%) on LGE-CMR were included prospectively. LV and RV volumes and function were quantified and RV systolic dysfunction was defined as RV ejection fraction (RVEF)<45%. The presence and pattern of LGE were assessed visually and the extent was quantified using the full-width half maximum method. Septal midmyocardial LGE pattern was defined as midwall striae or hinge-point myocardial hyperenhancement. Moreover, left atrial (LA) volumes were calculated using the bi-plane area-length method. Results The study included 214 DCM patients (42% female, age 58±14 years) with a mean LVEF of 34±12% and RVEF of 46±12%. RV systolic dysfunction was present in 39% and was associated with the presence of septal midwall LGE (OR 1.96 (95% CI 1.09–3.54) p=0.026). In patients with RV dysfunction, LV dilation was more severe (LV end diastolic volume (EDV) 242±97mL vs. 212±58mL, p=0.011) and LVEF was lowere (26±12% vs. 39±8%, p<0.001) (figure A). There was a weak correlation between septal LGE amount and LVEDV and RVEDV (respectively r=0.36, p=0.003 and r=0.35, p=0.005) In patients with RV dysfunction, left atrial volumes were enlarged (56±23mL/m2 vs. 46±14mL/m2, p<0.001) and LA emptying fraction was moderately correlated to RVEF (figure B), also after exclusion of patients with a history of atrial fibrillation. RVEF in DCM patients Conclusion In DCM, reduced RVEF predominantly occurred in patients with a) LVEF lower than 30%, b) septal midwall enhancement, indicating progressive LV remodeling, c) LA dilation and d) LA dysfunction. This suggests that RV dysfunction in advanced DCM is drive by LV diastolic dysfunction resulting in increased afterload of the RV.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nouradden Noman Aljaber ◽  
Zohoor Ali Mattash ◽  
Sultan Abdulwadoud Alshoabi ◽  
Fahad Hassan Alhazmi

Background and objectives: Ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement of heart function that reflects the portion of pumped out blood from the filled left ventricle per each heartbeat. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of left ventricular thrombus in patients with EF lower than 35% by using Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE). Methods: In this prospective study, 82 cardiac patients underwent TTE procedure in order to assess the presence of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) from January 1st to December 31st 2017 at the Military Cardiac Centre in Sana’a, Yemen. Results: Out of 82 patients enrolled in this study, the mean age was 49.13 ± 14.8 years and 87.8% were male. The mean of EF was 31.16% and LVT was found in 6.1%. The spontaneous contrast was seen in 25.6% of patients indicating strong relationship with low EF (p < 0.001). Among patients with low EF, ischemic heart disease (IHD) was identified in 50%, hypertension in 30.5%, diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 in 23.2%, and hyperlipidemia 12.2%. Exactly 80% of LVT were detected in IHD patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) and 80% of detected LVT were apical in site. Conclusion: Cardiac patients with low ejection fraction developed left ventricular thrombosis, and most of the affected patients were ischemic heart disease with dilated cardiomyopathy. Interestingly, spontaneous contrast was found high significantly in these patients, which may reflect the continuous process of thrombus formation. Abbreviations:EF: ejection fraction, ASE: American society of echocardiography, EACVI: European association of cardiovascular imaging, LV: left ventricle, LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction, HFpEF: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, HFrEF: heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, MI: myocardial infarction, DCMP: dilated cardiomyopathy, AF: atrial fibrillation, TTE: Transthoracic echocardiography, TEE: trans-esophageal echocardiography, RHD: rheumatic heart disease, HTN: hypertension, DM: diabetes mellitus, CHF: congestive heart failure, JVP: jugular venous pressure, CBC: complete blood count, LFT: liver function tests, RFT: renal function test, LVT: left ventricular thrombus, ECG: electrocardiography, LVT: left ventricular thrombus, EDV: end diastolic volume, ESV: end systolic volume, SPSS: statistical package for the social sciences, IBM: international business machines, SD: standard deviation. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.1972 How to cite this:Aljaber NN, Mattash ZA, Alshoabi SA, Alhazmi FA. The prevalence of left ventricular thrombus among patients with low ejection fraction by trans-thoracic echocardiography. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.1972 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Latouche ◽  
Hervé Devillers

Objective: Impaired wound healing can lead to hard-to-heal wounds, which impact on patients, clinicians and healthcare systems. Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi-d) was developed to manage wounds through early-stage cleansing. This study describes the use of NPWTi-d to help manage hard-to-heal wounds in patients with risk factors for impaired wound healing. Method: In this case series, patients were treated between October 2015 and March 2018 at a community hospital in western France. Normal saline solution was instilled into wounds with a dwell time of 10 minutes, followed by the application of negative pressure at −75 mmHg to −125 mmHg for 2–3 hours. If needed, patients were given appropriate oral or intravenous antibiotic treatment in conjunction with NPWTi-d and subsequent wound therapies. Results: A total of 15 patients participated in the study. Mean age was 81±13 years, and 12 (80%) patients were malnourished with blood albumin levels of 30.1±5.7g/l, and 12 (80%) patients were given antibiotic therapy. The mean duration of NPWTi-d was 19.4±20.8 days, with a mean number of dressing changes of 6.6±6.8; the duration of NPWTi-d and the number of dressing changes for pressure ulcers was three times that of the other wound types. The mean cost of NPWTi-d in this study was €1643.40±€1709.13. Overall, NPWTi-d provided early-stage wound cleansing and helped achieve adequate granulation tissue formation and progression to the next phase of wound healing. Conclusion: In these cases, NPWTi-d was a beneficial and effective method of treating hard-to-heal wounds that were resistant to traditional treatments, yielding favourable clinical outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Ojrzynska ◽  
M Marczak ◽  
Ł Mazurkiewicz ◽  
J Petryka-Mazurkiewicz ◽  
B Milosz-Wieczorek ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac abnormality and is diagnosed on the basis of typical symptoms. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and affects more than 25 million people worldwide. HF of unknown aetiology is managed with symptomatic treatment. Patients with reduced (HFrEF) or mid-reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and no clear cause of systolic dysfunction are usually classified as having DCM. In HFpEF group ejection fraction is preserved but diastolic dysfunction is present leading to HF symptoms. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to identify heart failure (HF) aetiology. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all medical charts of patients referred for CMR due to heart failure of unknown aetiology admitted to our hospital between 2008 and 2017. Only patients with no specific pre-CMR initial diagnosis were included. Patients with suspicion of any specific disease leading to HF were excluded. If a referring physician suspected myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, previous myocardial infarction or advanced stable coronary disease (based on clinical signs and symptoms, the patient’s and family history or all pre-CMR studies), these patients were omitted from our analysis. Thus, we included only patients whose diagnostic work-up did not reveal suspicion of any specific cardiac disease leading to HF. Results The study sample consisted of 243 patients (173 (71.2%) male, mean age 44.0 ± 14.2%). All patients underwent contrast-enhanced CMR. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was detected in 74.9% cases. Cardiomyopathies comprised the main aetiology (174 cases, 71.6%), in particular dilated cardiomyopathy (143 patients, 58.8%). 17 patients (7.0%) were diagnosed with myocarditis and in 24 patients (9.9%) CMR-based diagnosis was ambiguous – pointing out myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy. In 23 cases (9.5%) CMR indicated the presence of prior infarction undetected by pre-CMR testing. In five patients (2.1%) valvular disease was revealed as the sole cause of HF. We analysed the change in patients’ management guided by the CMR results defined as change of treatment and/or necessity of further tests leading to therapeutic consequences. Change of pre-CMR diagnosis occurred in 94 patients (38.7%) and was judged crucial in 41 patients (16,9%). As crucial we adjudicated the diagnosis associated with a need immediately further investigation and treatment changing, as follows: newly diagnosed amyloidosis, ischaemic heart disease or complex advanced valvular disease and cardiomyopathies other than dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive. Conclusion Our study strongly suggests that cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable tool for determining the aetiology of heart failure and impacts patients" management. Abstract Figure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 468
Author(s):  
Sivakumar E. ◽  
Ramasubramaniam P.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in children is a serious disorder. Here authors study the risk factors for predicting prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy in children.Methods: An observational case series study done in Institute of child health and research centre, Government Rajaji hospital, Madurai during September 2012 to August 2014. The diagnosis of DCM was based on clinical examination and echocardiographic evidence. Patients were followed up and grouped according to the outcome as improved or cured (group I), no change in clinical status (group II) and worsened or dead (group III).Results: 31 children less than 12 years of age were diagnosed as DCM. 13 children came under group I with a mean age of 2.15±2.5 and the mean cardiothoracic diameter ratio in chest X-ray was 59.8±3.3. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction at the time of admission was 38.7±3.04 and was 52.1±2.7 on last follow up. 11 children came under Group III with a mean age of 5.35±4.4 and the mean cardiothoracic diameter ratio was 65.3±2.7. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 35.8±3.7 at admission and 32.6±2.9 on last follow up. Only two children came under Group II and hence their comparison is negligible.Conclusions: Children with higher age at the time of diagnosis, higher cardiothoracic diameter ratio in chest X-ray and a low left ventricular ejection fraction on serial echocardiogram were associated with a poor outcome.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pertti Suominen ◽  
Niklas Mattila ◽  
Olle Nyblom ◽  
Paula Rautiainen ◽  
Maila Turanlahti ◽  
...  

Background: Limited treatment options are available for children with decompensated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), while they wait for either functional recovery or heart transplantation. We evaluated the safety of repetitive levosimendan infusions and short-term and long-term impacts of the therapy in this patient population. Methods: Eighty-one repetitive levosimendan infusions administered to 20 patients with DCM at severe or end stage of the disease in the pediatric intensive care unit were analyzed retrospectively. Echocardiographic assessments were reinterpreted by two experienced pediatric cardiologists. The mean follow-up time after therapy was 9.8 ± 3.3 years. Results: The median age of the patients at the time of the first levosimendan infusion was 1.1 years (interquartile range: 0.3-2.1). Transient hypotension was reported in 17.3% of the infusions. No significant changes in the mean ejection fraction were detected after repetitive levosimendan infusion (31.6 ± 12.5 vs 33.1 ± 12.4; P = .39) or for the laboratory parameters for the group as a whole. In 7 (35%) of 20 patients, the mean ejection fraction improved from 20% ± 12% to 35% ± 11% ( P = .003). The administration of concomitant medications and time may have contributed to the healing process of these patients. Two patients were removed from the transplantation waiting-list owing to clinical recovery after six months of therapy. The long-term survival rate was 70% (n = 14 of 20). Conclusions: Repetitive levosimendan infusions in children with DCM appeared to be hemodynamically well tolerated without severe adverse events. Although one-third of the children had a good response to repetitive levosimendan infusions, no overall significant improvement in ventricular performance could be found in this heterogenous DCM patient population, which included the patients in end-stage heart failure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e237604
Author(s):  
Gautam Sen ◽  
Eleanor Barendt ◽  
Manas Sinha

A 44-year-old woman with known trichorhinophalangeal syndrome presented with an unheralded out of hospital cardiac arrest. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction <25% and cardiac MRI confirmed a diagnosis of congenital non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. The case highlights a very rare syndrome, it is previously unknown association with dilated cardiomyopathy and the possible benefit of cardiac screening for patients with known trichorhinophalangeal syndrome.


Author(s):  
Ankit Garg ◽  
Sushil Azad ◽  
Khemendra Kumar ◽  
Mona Bhatia ◽  
S. Radhakrishnan

Abstract Background Hypocalcemia is a rare reversible cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in pediatric population. Myocarditis is another more frequent cause of cardiomyopathy with overlapping presenting features. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is a vital modality capable of tissue characterization for the evaluation of cardiomyopathy. The present study is the first attempt to determine if any specific characteristics on CMR exist in patients with hypocalcemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods A retrospective analysis of 10 cases of hypocalcemic dilated cardiomyopathy (August 2012–August 2019), among which CMRI of nine patients were analyzed. Patients were categorized in to three categories; category 1 defined as absence of edema and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), category 2 having edema only, and category 3 with presence of both edema and LGE. A diagnosis of myocarditis was considered if both edema and LGE were present. Results The mean age of the cohort was 5.5 ± 3.3 months. The mean ejection fraction of the cohort was 20.5 ± 6.85% that improved significantly to 35.22 ± 9.3% at the time of discharge. Five of nine patients had no edema or LGE (category 1), whereas two patients each were categorized into category 2 and 3. All cases in category 1 had normalized ventricular function on follow-up. One patient in category 2 had normal ejection fraction and one was lost to follow-up. Out of the two patients in category 3, there was one mortality and another was lost to follow-up. Of the six patients at follow-up (19 ± 11.0 months), the mean left ventricle ejection fraction improved to 56.5 ± 6.1%. Conclusion Hypocalcemic dilated cardiomyopathy has a favorable outcome on rapid initiation of treatment. CMR can be utilized for further prognostication of these patients. Absence of edema and LGE predicts a good outcome, whereas presence of LGE and/or edema either indicates a worse prognosis or an underlying coexistent myocarditis warranting an early myocardial biopsy.


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