Early Spirometry Following Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction with Endobronchial Valves

Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) by endobronchial valve (EBV) implantation has been shown to improve dyspnea, pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in highly selected patients with severe emphysema and hyperinflation. The most frequent adverse event is a pneumothorax (PTX), occurring in approximately one-fifth of the cases due to intrathoracic volume shifts. The majority of these incidents are observed within 48 h post-procedure. However, the delayed occurrence of PTX after hospital discharge is a matter of concern. There is currently no approved concept for its prevention. Particularly, it is unknown whether and when respiratory manoeuvers such as spirometry post EBV treatment are feasible and safe. As per standard operating procedure at the University Hospital Zurich, early spirometry is scheduled after BLVR and prior to the discharge of the patient in order to monitor treatment success. The aim of our retrospective study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of early spirometry. In addition, we hypothesized that early spirometry could be useful to identify patients at risk for late PTX, which may occur after hospital discharge. All patients who underwent BLVR using EBVs between January 2018 and January 2020 at our hospital were enrolled in this study. After excluding 16 patients diagnosed post-procedure with PTX and four patients for other reasons, early spirometry was performed in 61 cases. There was neither a clinically relevant PTX during or after early spirometry nor a late PTX following hospital discharge. In conclusion, we found early spirometry, conducted not sooner than three days following EBV treatment, to be feasible and safe. Furthermore, early spirometry seems to be a useful predictor for successful BLVR, and it may help to decide whether a patient can be discharged. Given the small sample size and the retrospective design of our study, a prospective study that includes routine chest imaging after early spirometry to definitively exclude PTX is needed to recommend early spirometry as part of the standard protocol following EBV treatment.

Clinical Utility of a Biomarker to Detect Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury during Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a major clinical complication of percutaneous cardiovascular procedures requiring iodinated contrast. Despite its relative frequency, practicing physicians are unlikely to identify or treat this condition. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In a 2-round clinical trial of simulated patients, we examined the clinical utility of a urine-based assay that measures liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), a novel marker of CI-AKI. We sought to determine if interventional cardiologists’ ability to diagnose and treat potential CI-AKI improved using the biomarker assay for 3 different patient types: pre-procedure, peri-procedure, and post-procedure patients. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 154 participating cardiologists were randomly divided into either control or intervention. At baseline, we found no difference in the demographics or how they identified and treated potential complications of AKI, with both groups providing less than half the necessary care to their patients (46.4% for control vs. 47.6% for intervention, <i>p</i> = 0.250). The introduction of L-FABP into patient care resulted in a statistically significant improvement of 4.6% (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Compared to controls, physicians receiving L-FABP results were 2.9 times more likely to correctly identify their patients’ risk for AKI (95% CI 2.1–4.0) and were more than twice as likely to treat for AKI by providing volume expansion and withholding nephrotoxic medications. We found the greatest clinical utility in the pre-procedure and peri-procedure settings but limited value in the post-procedure setting. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study suggests L-FABP as a clinical marker for assessing the risk of potential CI-AKI, has clinical utility, and can lead to more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Virtual Reality Reduces Pediatric Anxiety During Food Allergy Clinical Trials: A Pilot Randomized, Pragmatic Study

Phlebotomy procedures required in food allergy (FA) diagnosis and clinical trials often induce fear and anxiety for pediatric patients. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether virtual reality (VR) applications were effective in reducing anxiety for pediatric FA patients undergoing phlebotomy during FA clinical trials. Secondary aims assessed fear, pain, procedural compliance, and adverse events. Participants undergoing phlebotomy were enrolled and randomized to a VR group or standard of care (SOC) group for this prospective pilot randomized, pragmatic study. Participants in the VR group played interactive applications on a customized Samsung Gear VR headset and those in the SOC group received the standard of care. Participants' anxiety, fear, and pain were assessed with the Children's Anxiety Meter, Children's Fear Scale, and FACES pain scale pre, during, and post phlebotomy procedure. Compliance was assessed using the modified Induction Compliance Checklist during the procedure and compared between two groups. Forty-nine participants were randomized to VR (n = 26) and SOC (n = 23) groups. Although both the VR and SOC groups experienced a decrease in anxiety and fear from pre- to post-procedure, those in the VR group experienced less anxiety and fear during the procedure than SOC participants. Similarly, both groups experienced an increase in pain from pre- to post-procedure; however, the VR group reported less pain during the procedure than SOC. Fewer symptoms of procedural non-compliance were reported in the VR group. Interactive VR applications may be an effective tool for reducing fear, anxiety, and pain during phlebotomy for FA clinical trials.

SEVERE MITRAL REGURGITATION AFTER PMBV? COMPARISON BETWEEN INOUE AND MULTI-TRACK TECHNIQUES

Objectives: To compare the frequency of severe mitral regurgitation after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) via Inoue balloon and multi-track balloon technique in our population. Methodology: In this retrospective observational study which was conducted at a tertiary care cardiac center of Karachi, Pakistan between 2015 and 2020 on Hospital registry of PMBV patients. Data were categorized in to two groups, Inoue balloon or multi-track balloon technique. Post procedure echocardiographic and catheterization parameters and in-hospital outcomes and complications, including severe MR, were compared between two groups. Results: Out of 470 PMBV procedures, 286 (60.9%) were performed with multi-track and 184 (39.1%) with Inoue balloon. Improvement in mitral value area was significantly higher with multi-track as compared to Inoue balloon (0.66±0.31 cm2 vs. 0.56±0.29 cm2; p<0.001). Severe MR was not significant, 3.5% (10/286) vs. 4.3% (8/184); p=0.639 for multi-track and Inoue balloon. One patient in Inoue balloon group and two patients in multi-track group required emergency valve surgery. Stroke was observed in two patients of multi-track group and two patients from the same group developed tamponade. No in-hospital mortality was observed. Conclusion: Post-procedure severe MR is a significant and frequent complication. Rate of post procedure severe MR are similar for PMBV via Inoue balloon and multi-track balloon. Both methods are equally effective with equal success rate.

FREQUENCY OF ACUTE MITRAL REGURGITATION IN POST PERCUTANEOUS TRANSVENOUS MITRAL COMMISSUROTOMY PATIENTS WITH SEVERE MITRAL STENOSIS

Objectives: To determine the frequency of Acute Mitral Regurgitation in Post Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Commissurotomy (PTMC) patients with severe mitral stenosis (MS). Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Tabba Heart Institute, Karachi, Pakistan between September 2019 and April 2021. All patients irrespective of gender, aged between 19-80 years, and those who did not undergo PTMC were eligible to partake in the study. Patients with mitral regurgitation along with mitral stenosis, or those with clot in left atrium, or those suffering with the last stage of renal disease were excluded from the study. A predefined Proforma was used as a research instrument through which medical records of patients of PTMC are collected. The variables of the Proforma include patient’s age, name, sex, echo findings, treatment procedure, post-procedure data and complications. Results: A mean age of 40.6 ± 12.63 years was reported. 86 (81.9%) of the patients developed ‘no complications’, 15 (14.3%) of the PTMC patients suffered from ‘severe mitral regurgitation’, 2 (1.9%) had local hematoma, and one patient had a cardiac tamponade after the procedure. Only one patient died post-procedure. Post-stratification analysis showed that the majority of the female patients and 83% of the patients with no previous commissurotomy history did not have any complications. While a total of 14.7% who had no history of previous commissurotomy suffered from severe MR. Conclusion: Our study revealed that only a small number of patients who underwent PTMC suffered from severe mitral regurgitation. Overall, the procedure is safe with a good outcome.

A case of two shunts in the endovascular treatment of type II Abernethy syndrome

Background Abernethy malformation is a rare condition defined by a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, often leading to absence or hypoplasia of the intrahepatic portal venous system. Although there are no consensus treatment guidelines, interventional techniques now offer minimally invasive treatment options for Abernethy malformations. This case report describes a case of Abernethy Syndrome Type II where the patient had two separate extrahepatic portosystemic shunts treated with endovascular occlusion with two Amplatzer plugs and demonstrates the feasibility of this treatment for this rare condition. This case was in a young adult, adding to the scarce literature of treatment for Abernethy syndrome in the adult population. Case presentation We report a case of a 20-year-old female patient with neurocognitive behavioral difficulty, voracious appetite, and chronic encephalopathy secondary to type II Abernethy malformation with not one, but two extrahepatic portosystemic shunts. The patient had failed medical management and was not a liver transplant candidate. Therefore, she presented to us for an endovascular treatment option. The two shunts were treated with endovascular occlusion using Amplatzer vascular plugs. Following embolization, flow into the hypoplastic portal vein improved with near complete occlusion of flow into the portosystemic shunts, thus restoring blood flow into the native portal system. At 3 month follow up, a CT demonstrated complete occlusion of the two portosystemic shunts, and a portal vein diminutive in caliber. The portal vein measured 7 mm in diameter on both pre and post-procedure CT scans. The total volume of the liver was found to be 843 cm3 on pre-procedure CT & 1191 cm3 on post-procedure CT. Conclusions This report demonstrates the feasibility of using endovascular embolization to treat Abernethy II malformations. The management strategy of Type II Abernethy Syndrome should be to redirect blood flow into the hypoplastic native portal system, allowing for physiologic hepatic metabolism of splanchnic blood, hypertrophy of the portal system, and growth of the liver from the increased trophic flow.

Challenges in device closure of PDA in adults.

Objective: To describe the challenges and outcomes of per cutaneous closure of PDA in adolescents and adults. Study Design: Cross Sectional, Retrospective Analysis. Setting: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, CPE Institute of Cardiology, Multan. Period: 2017 to 2019. Material & Methods: A total of 111 adolescent and adult patients were included in the study. Patients with irreversible severe pulmonary hypertension were not included. Sampling with consecutive nonprobability was done. Procedure was done according to standard protocols. Different devices were used in different patients according to morphology of defect. Devices included SHSMA and Lifetech duct occluders. In two patients VSD muscular devices were also used. Results: Mean age was 22 + 7.88 years. Out of these 111 subjects, 72 (63%) were female and 39 (37%) were male with a ratio of 1.84:1. Two patients were of moderate size (3-5mm) PDA, 26 (27%) were of moderately large (5-7mm) size and majority of patients had large size (>7mm) PDA (55%). Majority of PDAs were type A (100, 90%), one was type B, 4 were type C and 6 were of type E according to Krichenko classification. No complications occurred except in one patient in which device was embolized. Foaming through the device was noted in 65 patients after 24 hours post procedure echocardiography. Conclusion: It was concluded that PDA device closure has its own challenges in adults but it is safe and effective as well.

Use of the HAS-BLED Score in Risk Stratifying Patients on Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Coronary Stent

Objectives: Use of the HAS-BLED score in risk stratifying patients on dual antiplatelet therapy after stent placement. Methods & Results: 304 patients who underwent stent placement from June, 2018 to December 2018. There is 6,57% patients with medium & severe bleeding. Area under the curve of HAS-BLED score (AUC); PRECISE-DAPT score and CRUSADE were sequential 0.59; 0,79 and 0,84 (p=0,0001) at post-PCI procedures; were sequential 0,72; 0,94 và 0,88 (p=0,00001) at less than 6 months after PCI procedures, and were sequential 0,87; 0,73 và 0,70 (p=0,0068) at more than 6 months after PCI procedures. Conclusion: the HAS-BLED score was most useful for predicting bleeding in patients on on dual antiplatelet therapy after stent placement at more than 6 months after PCI procedures. PRECISE-DAPT score was most useful for predicting bleeding at less than 6 months after PCI procedures and CRUSADE score was most useful for predicting bleeding at post procedure.

Safety and efficacy of the Mynx Control vascular closure device in peripheral arterial procedures: A prospective study

Objectives This article aims to present a prospective study investigating the safety and efficacy of the Mynx Control extravascular closure device (Cordis Corporation, FL, USA), for femoral arterial closure in patients undergoing peripheral arterial procedures. Methods Between January 2020 and February 2021, 100 Mynx Control devices were deployed in 91 consecutive patients (mean age: 67.5 ± 16.9 years) who underwent peripheral arterial procedures. We used ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy during Mynx Control deployment and ultrasound post-procedure to detect complications. Femoral artery punctures included 62 (62%) antegrade and 38 (38%) retrograde punctures. The mean activated clotting time at time of device deployment was 221s. The primary endpoints were technical success, device failure, and complication rates up to 30 days. Results A 5F vascular sheath was used in 43 cases (43%) (36 (36%) 6F and 21 (21%) 7F). The majority of our cases had antegrade access (62%). Overall technical success rate was 97% in both antegrade and retrograde cases. In total, there were 4 minor complications: 3 (3%) cases of pseudoaneurysm and 1 (1%) case of haematoma. No major complications were recorded post-procedure or 30 days post index procedure. Conclusion The Mynx Control vascular closure device is safe and effective in achieving haemostasis in patients undergoing antegrade and retrograde peripheral angioplasty procedures.