Cardiology Commons^™

Heart Rate Variability Applications In Strength And Conditioning: A Narrative Review, Jennifer Addleman, Nicholas Lackey, Justin Deblauw, Alexander Hajduczok

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Heart rate variability (HRV) is defined as the fluctuation of time intervals between adjacent heartbeats and is commonly used as a surrogate measure of autonomic function. HRV has become an increasingly measured variable by wearable technology for use in fitness and sport applications. However, with its increased use, a gap has arisen between the research and the application of this technology in strength and conditioning. The goal of this narrative literature review is to discuss current evidence and propose preliminary guidelines regarding the application of HRV in strength and conditioning. A literature review was conducted searching for HRV and strength …

The Impact Of The Optn Policy Change On Patients With A Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device And Chronic Kidney Disease: Analysis Of The Unos Database, Eric D. Warner, Christopher Pritting, Sawan Dutta, Matt Bierowski, Waqas Ullah, Yevgeniy Brailovsky, Michelle Kittleson, René J. Alvarez, J. Eduardo Rame, Alexander Hajduczok, Vineeta Kumar, Danial Ahmad, Vakhtang Tchantchaleishvili, Indranee N. Rajapreyar

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) implemented modifications in 2018 to the adult heart transplant allocation system to better stratify the most medically urgent transplant candidates. We evaluated the impact of these changes on patients supported by a durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the OPTN policy change on patients supported by durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS: We performed an analysis of patients from the United Network of Organ Sharing Database supported by durable LVAD listed for a heart transplant …

The Gender Spectrum Of In-Hospital Survival Post Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention For St Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Exploring Age-Driven Trends, Iva Patel, Pooja Vyas, Karthik Natarajan, Kewal Kanabar, Vishal Sharma, Sharad Jain, Dinesh Joshi, Swati Dahiya, Siva Nagendra Borra

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: The study was aimed to evaluate gender difference and age & gender specific interaction of in-hospital outcomes of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 1748 patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. The study was dichotomised according to gender to evaluate the difference in the outcome. The study was further stratified based on an age cut-off of 75 years to examine the age-specific gender relationship in survival outcomes. Independent variables for in-hospital mortality were analysed through logistic regression. Results: There were 314 (17.96%) females with …

Hemoadsorption With Cytosorb As Part Of A Strategy To Improve Outcomes In Patients On Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, Ruzica Mrkonjic

The VAD Journal

The exposure of a patient’s blood to the non-endothelialized surface of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system results in the production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This imbalance in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines leads to inflammatory response syndrome, which contributes to edema, vasoplegia, and multiple organ failure among other complications. Hemoadsorption therapy, with the use of CytoSorb^® (CytoSorbents) has emerged as a well-accepted treatment option that helps control pro-inflammatory response and improve outcomes for patients on ECMO. However, studies have shown that the potential of hemoadsorption is controversial and that it is crucial for clinicians to weigh the pros …

Endothelial Dysfunction Linked To Ventricular Dysfunction In Children With Sickle Cell Disease, A 3d Speckle Tracking Study., Antoine Abdelmassih, Mervat Haroun, Rasha Abdelraouf Abdelaziz Afifi, Gehan Hussein, Manal Abdelhameed, Marina George Asaad, Heba Tarabeh, Nourhan Essam El Din Taha, Nourine Diab, Noura Shebl, Raghda Fouda, Marianne Edward Yassa, Mohamed Ghobashy, Hala Agha

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is not a hematologic disease that occurs in isolation; it results in multi-organ complications. There is growing evidence of vascular stiffness as its underlying cause.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between endothelial stiffness and LV dysfunction in SCD patients and to explore its pathophysiology, particularly regarding the depletion of vasodilators such as Nitric Oxide (NO).

Methodology

32 patients with established criteria for SCD and 40 healthy control subjects were selected for this case-control study. Comprehensive clinical assessment and assessment of endothelial function using Brachial Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were performed, along with serum NO …

Creating Capacity To Accommodate Additional Cardiac Catheterization Procedures, Kristin Anthony

Operations Transformation

Patient access to diagnostic outpatient (OP) cardiac catheterization is limited by a perceived lack of capacity. Outpatient cardiac cath pts flow through the ACU for pre/post procedure care. Current schedule limits pts that may be scheduled through the ACU to two OP procedures/day. Cardiologists request the ability to schedule beyond the two procedures/day allowed. Significant variation in pre/postoperative care orders exist amongst cardiologists resulting in variability in length of stay. Cardiac procedures are booked either as 60/90/120 minutes – Epic case averaging technology is not active in the cath lab. As a result, the case minutes in the cath lab …

The Macrophage Landscape Across The Lifespan Of A Human Cardiac Allograft, Xiao Li, Diwakar Turaga, Rich G Li, Chang-Ru Tsai, Julianna N Quinn, Yi Zhao, Ruby Wilson, Katherine Carlson, Jun Wang, Joseph A Spinner, Edward J Hickey, Iki Adachi, James F Martin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Much of our knowledge of organ rejection after transplantation is derived from rodent models.

Methods: We used single-nucleus RNA sequencing to investigate the inflammatory myocardial microenvironment in human pediatric cardiac allografts at different stages after transplantation. We distinguished donor- from recipient-derived cells using naturally occurring genetic variants embedded in single-nucleus RNA sequencing data.

Results: Donor-derived tissue resident macrophages, which accompany the allograft into the recipient, are lost over time after transplantation. In contrast, monocyte-derived macrophages from the recipient populate the heart within days after transplantation and form 2 macrophage populations: recipient MP1 and recipient MP2. Recipient MP2s have cell …

Rare Complications Associated With Use Of Bovine Pericardium, Mohamed Aashiq Abdul Ghayum, Nitin Madan, William J. Gibson, Sanket Shah

Research Days

Background

Bovine Pericardium (BP), with numerous and improving preparation techniques, has been used extensively for over 50 years in repair of simple and complex congenital heart defects. It has several advantages over other surgical materials. However, there is a paucity of data in the pediatric population regarding complications associated with BP. Herein, we report two rare complications noted with BP use.

Case Description

Case 1. A 14-month-old male, with trisomy 21 and complete Atrioventricular canal defect, repaired using BP. A routine surveillance echocardiogram showed a mass attached to the atrial septum and atrial aspect of the left atrioventricular valve (Figure …

Double Aortic Arch With Atresia Of The Left Aortic Arch Proximal To The Left Common Carotid Artery In A Patient With Phace Syndrome – A Management Conundrum, Mohamed Aashiq Abdul Ghayum, Anmol Goyal, Aliessa P. Barnes, Sanket Shah

Research Days

Background Cardiac anomalies in PHACE syndrome (P: posterior fossa anomalies, H: hemangiomas, A: arterial lesions, C: cardiac abnormalities, E: abnormalities of the eye) often consists of complex aortic arch anomalies with double aortic arch (DAA) being an uncommon association. Atresia of the proximal segment of the left arch in DAA is extremely rare and can pose a diagnostic and management conundrum due to formation of a loose vascular ring and asymptomatic nature as seen in our case.

Case Description A 5-year-old male, diagnosed with PHACE syndrome, at a different center was noted to have an incidental finding on head imaging …

The Long-Term Effects Of Blood Urea Nitrogen Levels On Cardiovascular Disease And All-Cause Mortality In Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study, Hongfang Liu, Xiaoqin Xin, Jinghui Gan, Jungao Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The long-term effects of blood urea nitrogen(BUN) in patients with diabetes remain unknown. Current studies reporting the target BUN level in patients with diabetes are also limited. Hence, this prospective study aimed to explore the relationship of BUN with all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities in patients with diabetes.

METHODS: In total, 10,507 participants with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018) were enrolled. The causes and numbers of deaths were determined based on the National Death Index mortality data from the date of NHANES interview until follow-up (December 31, 2019). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were …

Best Anticoagulation Strategy With And Without Appendage Occlusion For Stroke-Prophylaxis In Postablation Atrial Fibrillation Patients With Cardiac Amyloidosis, Andrea Natale

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Both atrial fibrillation (AF) and amyloidosis increase stroke risk. We evaluated the best anticoagulation strategy in AF patients with coexistent amyloidosis. Methods: Consecutive AF patients with concomitant amyloidosis were divided into two groups based on the postablation stroke-prophylaxis approach; group 1: left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in eligible patients and group 2: oral anticoagulation (OAC). Group 1 patients were further divided into Gr. 1A: LAAO + half-does NOAC (HD-NOAC) for 6 months followed by aspirin 81 mg/day and Gr. 1B: LAAO + HD-NOAC. In group 1 patients, with complete occlusion at the 45-day transesophageal echocardiogram, patients were switched to …

Postnatal Brain Trajectories And Maternal Intelligence Predict Childhood Outcomes In Complex Chd, Vincent K Lee, Rafael Ceschin, William T Reynolds, Benjamin Meyers, Julia Wallace, Douglas Landsittel, Heather M Joseph, Daryaneh Badaly, J William Gaynor, Daniel Licht, Nathaniel H Greene, Ken M Brady, Jill V Hunter, Zili D Chu, Elisabeth A Wilde, R Blaine Easley, Dean Andropoulos, Ashok Panigrahy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To determine whether early structural brain trajectories predict early childhood neurodevelopmental deficits in complex CHD patients and to assess relative cumulative risk profiles of clinical, genetic, and demographic risk factors across early development.

Study Design: Term neonates with complex CHDs were recruited at Texas Children’s Hospital from 2005–2011. Ninety-five participants underwent three structural MRI scans and three neurodevelopmental assessments. Brain region volumes and white matter tract fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity were used to calculate trajectories: perioperative, postsurgical, and overall. Gross cognitive, language, and visuo-motor outcomes were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and …

Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes In Patients With Coronary Artery Aneurysms (Caa) Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome (Acs) Or Cardiomyopathy, Advaitha Misra, Mathangi Keshavan, Ersida Zerdelija, Zain Abidi, Alexandra Corrado, James Benke, Hassan Dalloul, Anton Salwan

Posters

Coronary artery aneurysms and ectasia are rare conditions with an incidence estimated at < 1% [1]. It is defined as either a focal or diffuse dilation of a coronary segment of at least one and a half times the adjacent normal segment [2,3].The most common etiology is atherosclerosis, although a variety of other culprits are implicated in its pathogenesis, such as vasculitidies and connective tissue disorders [3,4,5]. Its management is largely driven by the etiology of the coronary artery segment dilation and the presentation of disease at the time of diagnosis. Management strategies employ a judicious combination of medical therapy, percutaneous and surgical interventions. The presence of coronary artery aneurysm or ectasia has been associated with poor long-term outcomes [6,7,8]. Complications from coronary artery aneurysm influence management, largely guided by clinician judgment and limited published data. Given the paucity of evidence in the management of these conditions, we present a case series of three patients with coronary artery aneurysm or ectasia with varying presentations and their corresponding management. We aim to contribute to the growing body of evidence for the management of this elusive cardiac condition.

Mitochondria Regulate Proliferation In Adult Cardiac Myocytes, Gregory B Waypa, Kimberly A Smith, Paul T Mungai, Vincent J Dudley, Kathryn A Helmin, Benjamin D Singer, Clara Bien Peek, Joseph Bass, Lauren Nelson, Sanjiv J Shah, Gaston Ofman, J Andrew Wasserstrom, William A Muller, Alexander V Misharin, G R Scott Budinger, Hiam Abdala-Valencia, Navdeep S Chandel, Danijela Dokic, Elizabeth Bartom, Shuang Zhang, Yuki Tatekoshi, Amir Mahmoodzadeh, Hossein Ardehali, Edward B Thorp, Paul T Schumacker

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Newborn mammalian cardiomyocytes quickly transition from a fetal to an adult phenotype that utilizes mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation but loses mitotic capacity. We tested whether forced reversal of adult cardiomyocytes back to a fetal glycolytic phenotype would restore proliferative capacity. We deleted Uqcrfs1 (mitochondrial Rieske iron-sulfur protein, RISP) in hearts of adult mice. As RISP protein decreased, heart mitochondrial function declined, and glucose utilization increased. Simultaneously, the hearts underwent hyperplastic remodeling during which cardiomyocyte number doubled without cellular hypertrophy. Cellular energy supply was preserved, AMPK activation was absent, and mTOR activation was evident. In ischemic hearts with RISP deletion, new cardiomyocytes …

Beyond The Task: Developing A Tool To Measure Workplace Characteristics That Affect Cognitive Load And Learning, Sarah Blissett, Sebastian Rodriguez, Atif Qasim, Patricia O'Sullivan

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Educators lack tools to measure the workplace characteristics that learners perceive to affect learning. Without a tool that encompasses the social, organizational, and physical components of workplace learning environments (WLEs), it is challenging to identify and improve problematic workplace characteristics. Using echocardiography WLE, this study developed a tool to measure workplace characteristics that cardiology fellows perceive to affect learning.

METHOD: The Workplace-Cognitive Load Tool (W-CLT) was developed, which encompasses 17 items to measure workplace characteristics that could affect perceived cognitive load and learning. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the most parsimonious structure. A total of 646 cardiology …

Port Catheter Fracture: A Silent Intrusion Into The Right Ventricle, Sanya Chandna, Saumya Nanda, Ankit Agrawal, Kavin Raj, Umesh Bhagat, Keerthana Jyotheeswara Pillai, Suryansh Bajaj

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Central venous port-a-catheters play a pivotal role in various medical procedures, yet they are associated with a spectrum of complications. Catheter fracture with cardiac migration is a rare complication, occurring in less than 1% of patients. Although not very common, it can cause severe issues, necessitating fragment removal. We present a case of spontaneous mediport fracture and migration in a patient with a history of Hodgkin's lymphoma and prior chemotherapy. He presented with nausea, vomiting, and tachycardia. Further evaluation revealed elevated total leukocyte count and labs consistent with diabetic ketoacidosis. He was diagnosed with new-onset diabetes mellitus. Imaging studies confirmed …

Heart Transplantation In A Patient With Rheumatic Heart Disease And Severe Left Atrial Calcification, Kyungsub Song, Seonhwa Lee, Yun Seok Kim

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

A 62-year-old woman who had undergone mitral valve replacement 24 years ago was admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure. She needed heart transplantation for stage D heart failure. Preoperative cardiac computed tomographic scans showed a severely calcified left atrium and a large right atrium. Given that the left atrium's calcification was too severe to suture, the calcified left atrial wall was broadly resected, and the resected left atrial wall was reconstructed with a bovine pericardial patch for anastomosis with the donor's left atrial wall. The operation was completed without heavy bleeding, and the patient was discharged from the …

Cardiac Function Before Sepsis And Clinical Outcomes, Stuthi Iyer, Jason N Kennedy, Jacob C Jentzer, Mourad H Senussi, Christopher W Seymour

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This cohort study characterizes heterogeneity in cardiac function prior to sepsis and describes associations with hospitalization outcomes and mortality.

Temporal Trends, Outcomes, And Predictors Of Next-Day Discharge And Readmission Following Uncomplicated Evolut Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis., Wayne B Batchelor, Carlos E Sanchez, Paul Sorajja, James E Harvey, Benjamin Z Galper, Anapoorna Kini, Patricia Keegan, Kendra J Grubb, Ruth Eisenberg, Toby Rogers

Heart and Vascular Articles

BACKGROUND: Next-day discharge (NDD) outcomes following uncomplicated self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve replacement have not been studied. Here, we compare readmission rates and clinical outcomes in NDD versus non-NDD transcatheter aortic valve replacement with Evolut.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT (Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry patients (n=29 597) undergoing elective transcatheter aortic valve replacement with self-expanding supra-annular valves (Evolut R, PRO, and PRO+) from July 2019 to June 2021 were stratified by postprocedure length of stay: ≤1 day (NDD) versus >1 day (non-NDD). Propensity score matching was used to compare risk adjusted 30-day readmission rates and …

Off-Pump Coronary Surgery Combined With Aortic Valve Replacement Under Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest Within An Unexpected Porcelain Aorta, Abdelkader Boukhmis, Khaled Khacha, Djouaher Yacine

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Unexpected porcelain aorta is a real challenge to safely completing aortic valve replacement combined with coronary artery surgery. This condition often leads to an aborted sternotomy in the hope of performing transcatheter procedures, the feasibility of which may be hampered by anatomical considerations. We report the case of a 71- year old man with history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, which was referred for severe aortic valve stenosis and severe coronary artery disease. He benefited from an anaortic off-pump coronary surgery and clampless aortic valve replacement under hypothermic circulatory arrest to overcome an unexpected porcelain …