Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction 3D left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) quantification methods are more accurate and reproducible than 2D echocardiography, however, conventional 3D is time consuming and requires extensive user expertise, thus hindering its routine implementation in busy echocardiography laboratories and its use by inexperienced physicians. HeartModel A.I. (HM) is a simple, fast, recently validated 3D automated analysis software that detects LV endocardial surfaces and calculates LVEF. The aim of this work is to evaluate the performance of HM with experienced and inexperienced physicians, its time saving potential and to assess whether this software can be a better alternative to 2D measurements in routine echocardiography. Methods Prospective analysis of 30 nonconsecutive patients referred for transthoracic echocardiogram in a university hospital echocardiography lab, from 1st February 2021 to 31st March 2021. 2D biplane LVEF was measured by an experienced and inexperienced physician (less than 250 echocardiograms performed), then the same physicians used the automated analysis software to assess LVEF (blinded for each other results). The time to make the measurements was registered. Comparisons of agreement between LVEF measurements (experienced versus inexperienced physicians) included linear regression with Pearson correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analyses to assess the bias and limits of agreement (defined as 2SD around the mean). Results A total of 30 patients were included, mean age of 68.6 ± 20.1 years and 60% male. HM showed significantly lower acquisition times in both inexperienced (72±17s versus 173± 44s, P<0.01) and experienced (56±12s versus 126±29s, P<0.01) physicians. The difference in time of acquisition between 2D and HM was approximately 101s for inexperienced users and around 70s for experienced users. Regarding LVEF assessment, HM acquisitions compared to 2D measurements showed stronger correlations between experienced and inexperienced physicians (r= 0,98, P<0,01 versus r= 0,92, P<0,01) with minimal bias (−0,5 versus −0,6) and stronger agreement (HM limits of agreement: ± 5,8% versus 2D limits of agreement: ± 12,5%) Conclusion 3D LVEF assessment by HM significantly reduced acquisition times and exhibited higher interobserver agreement than 2D Simpson’s biplane method. These results suggest that automated 3D algorithms, such as HM, may play a key role in implementing 3D measurements in routine practice in busy echocardiography laboratories and allow the use of 3D echocardiography at early stages of physicians training.
Background Behçet’s syndrome is a multisystemic vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Cardiac involvement is rare, with described prevalence between 1% and 46%, with pericarditis, valvular insufficiency, intracardiac thrombosis, and eventually sinus of Valsalva aneurysms being the most common findings. Although previously reported, myocarditis is a very rare complication of Behçet’s syndrome. Case summary A 26-year-old man, smoker but otherwise healthy, was admitted to the emergency department with atypical chest pain, with no radiation, relation to efforts, position or deep inspiration, and dyspnoea, since the day before. His physical examination was unremarkable, including no fever, tachycardia, or pericardial friction rub. Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed an early repolarization pattern, with no changes noted in subsequent exams. He had elevation of inflammatory parameters and an increased high-sensitivity troponin level of 3300 ng/L. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was unremarkable. Coronary angiography showed no coronary stenosis. A presumed diagnosis of non-complicated viral myocarditis was established. The patient’s condition improved with acetylsalicylic acid as needed and colchicine and he was discharged after 3 days. Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed, showing late epicardial enhancement in the apical segment of the lateral wall, supporting the diagnosis of myocarditis. Four months later, the patient returned with recurrence of chest pain. Additionally, he also complained of fever, odynophagia, and otalgia since the previous week. Oropharyngeal examination revealed tonsillar pillars aphthosis. The ECG was similar to the previous and TTE was normal. Bloodwork revealed once again elevation of inflammatory parameters and elevation of troponin. Recurrent myocarditis was diagnosed. Treatment with ibuprofen, colchicine, and antibiotic therapy was started with no significant improvement. After a more thorough physical examination, an ulcerated scrotal lesion, a left buttock folliculitis, and an axillary hidradenitis were found, which, according to the patient, were recurrent in the last year. Accordingly, the diagnosis of Behçet’s syndrome with mucocutaneous and cardiac involvement was established. The patient was kept on colchicine and was also started on immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and azathioprine, with resolution of the symptoms in the following day. A positron emission tomography (PET) was performed 2 days after discharge and showed a higher myocardial uptake in the left ventricular basal segments and both papillary muscles. Prednisolone tapering was started after 2 months, while maintaining azathioprine. At 1-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic. A re-evaluation PET was performed, showing no images suggestive of metabolically active disease in the myocardium. Discussion This case highlights the importance of awareness of this rare but potentially serious entity and reinforces the significance of aetiology investigation in cases of recurrent myocarditis. It also shows the success of immunosuppressive therapy in a context where the optimal management is still considerably uncertain.
Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction 8-40% of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) present later than 12 hours after symptom onset. According to guidelines these late presenters maintain indication for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) when there are signs of ongoing ischemia. However, it prevails uncertainty in relation to the best approach in stable late presenters. Aims Describe the profile of stable late STEMI presenters and evaluate the trends of reperfusion decision in the Portuguese reality; compare early term outcomes between patients submitted to emergent primary PCI and those in which it was preferred an initial conservative approach. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients with STEMI presenting ≥12-48h hours after the beginning of the symptoms between October 2010 and December 2019 without evidence of ongoing ischemia, inserted in a national registry of acute coronary syndromes. Patients were dichotomized and compared according to whether or not were submitted to emergent reperfusion based on primary PCI. Results 274 patients were included (2.3% of all STEMI), predominantly men (67.5%), with a mean age of 68±13 years old. Emergent PCI was performed in a minority (15.7%; n=43); even so, coronarography ended up being executed in 61.3% of the admissions, with angioplasty performed in 47.1% of the cases. Right coronary artery was the most common intervened vessel (50.8%). Inotropes were necessary in 4.6% of the patients, with no reports of ventricular assistance device use. Mean ejection fraction was 51±12% with no differences between groups. Patients submitted to emergent PCI (15.7%) had a lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation (0 vs. 9.3%, p=0.04) and had more commonly electrocardiographic criteria for anterior STEMI (64.3% vs. 41.4%, p=0.006). Nitrates were significantly less prescribed at discharge in this subgroup (4.9% vs. 26.8%; p=0.002). Apart from aborted cardiac arrest, that was more prevalent in patients submitted to emergent reperfusion (4.8% vs. 0.9%, p=0.12), it was observed a tendency toward a lower percentage in this subgroup in all other early hard clinical outcomes such as re-infarction (0 vs. 0.4%, p=1.00), mechanical complications (0 vs. 2.2%; p=1.00), sustained ventricular tachycardia (0 vs. 0.9%, p=1.00) and in-hospital death (0% vs. 4.4%, p=0.37). However, none of the differences have reached statistical significance. Conclusion The study shows that, in the Portuguese reality, emergent reperfusion is adopted in only a minority of late stable STEMI patients, with a clear tendency to perform it more frequently in subacute anterior STEMI. Emergent PCI strategy did not show a clear benefit in terms of left ventricular function, risk of re-infarction, arrhythmic and mechanical complications, and in-hospital death. On the other hand, there was apparently a significant advantage of this strategy in ischemic symptom control.
Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVD) is a key concern in the context of cardio-oncology (CO). Usually, referral for suspected Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is the main challenge, but heart failure with other more common causes, such as ischemic cardiomyopathy can also decompensate during cancer treatment or be diagnosed incidentally during cardiotoxicity echocardiographic (echo) surveillance. Multimodality imaging is essential in these patients in order to better establish aetiology and assure the most appropriate clinical management. Purpose evaluate clinical impact of multimodality imaging in the clinical management of CO patients. Methods retrospective study of a population followed in CO consultation. Statistical analysis of demographic, clinical, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) data was made. Results we included 115 pts, mean age 66.3 ± 10.2 years, 67,8% female, with mean follow-up of 16.1 ± 12.8 months. About half (56.5%) had breast cancer, followed by gastrointestinal tract (16.5%) and haematological (8,7%) malignancies, with a significant proportion (32,2%) with advanced disease. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was high (hypertension in 74.8%, dyslipidaemia in 47%, type 2 diabetes mellitus in 17.4%), but also coronary artery disease (18,3%) and atrial fibrillation (18.3%). All of them were treated with different types of chemotherapy and 53,9% of pts with radiotherapy. At baseline, 13% of pts had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) under 50% (LVD) assessed by TTE, which increased to 26,9% (n = 31) after oncological treatment initiation. Of these (n = 31), an ischemic aetiology was found in 32,3% and non-ischemic in 54,8%, which was significantly more frequent in patients with CTRCD (OR 2,7, p = 0,001). CMR was performed in 45,2%, mostly in CTRCD cases (p = 0,012, OR 8,4), which, apart from LVD, did not show any tissue changes in most patients (p = 0,026, OR 35). Only one patient with CTRCD (under treatment with trastuzumab and anthracyclines) had subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement, with wall motion abnormalities, suggesting a myocarditis-like mechanism for cardiotoxicity. Conclusion LVD has a major impact in patients" prognosis, particularly in CO context, where effective oncological treatments can be compromised due heart failure decompensation. Therefore, a thorough clinical evaluation should encompass etiological study in order to provide the most appropriate treatment strategies. Moreover, CTRCD can develop through different physiopathological mechanisms. Thus, multimodality imaging, particularly including CMR evaluation, can have a major role ensuring a good clinical outcome for these patients.
Introduction Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Guidelines on the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for primary prevention of CVD in this population are conflicting. A potential reduction in the severity of a first episode of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) could be seen has an additional argument for the use of ASA in primary prevention. Aim: To evaluate the impact of prior intake of ASA on the presentation, severity and short-term prognosis of AMI in diabetic patients without history of CVD. Methods Retrospective analysis of diabetic patients without previous evidence of CVD diagnosed with type 1 AMI between January 2002 and December 2018, inserted in a multicentric registry of acute coronary syndromes. Patients were dichotomized according to whether or not they were taking ASA prior to the index event. Groups were compared according to clinical, analytical and imaging endpoints. Results A total of 2596 patients were included, predominantly men (66.4%), with a mean age of 68±12 years old. Patients on ASA (19.7%) were significantly older (71±10 vs. 67±12, p<0.001) and had a higher prevalence of hypertension (89.2% vs 77.9%, p<0.001), dyslipidaemia (69.8% vs. 61.1%, p<0.001) and chronic kidney disease (10.6% vs. 4.9%, p<0.001). Overall, there was a lower prevalence of AMI with ST-segment elevation (36.5% vs. 50.8%, p<0.001) in patients on ASA. However, the same group of patients had a significantly higher probability of evolution in Killip class > I (25.4% vs. 17.0%, p<0.001), a higher median BNP elevation (315 [126–623] vs. 166 [64–431], p<0.001); and a lower average ejection fraction upon discharge (49.0±12 vs. 51±12, p=0.011). Patients on prior regular intake of ASA also had a higher prevalence of multivessel disease (38.4% vs. 28.9%, p<0.001) and multiple significant stenosis (70.2% vs. 61.7%, p<0.001). There was no significant difference regarding the percentage of electrical complications (2.3% vs. 1.2%, p=0.06), use of intra-aortic balloon pump (1.0 vs. 0.9%, p=0.74) and in-hospital death (3.0% vs. 2.4%, p=0.46). In a logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities and previous medication as variates, prior ASA intake was an independent predictor of a lower rate of AMI with ST-segment elevation (ExpB −0.34; 95% CI: 0.57–0.89; p=0.003). On the contrary, when adjusted to these variables, prior ASA intake was not an independent predictor of higher BNP (p=0.13) or higher probability of multivessel disease (p=0.22) or presence of ≥1 significant stenosis (p=0.31). Conclusions In this population of diabetic patients with a first episode of ACS, prior use of ASA in the context of primary prevention was associated with a significant lower rate of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None
Introduction Historically, women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have worse outcomes compared with men. Differences in clinical, demographic characteristics and treatment may explain this result. In recent times with new diagnostic capabilities and revascularization therapies this panorama may be changing. Methods Single-center retrospective study comparing gender differences in ACS patients from 2012 to 2017. Two groups were formed comparing women and men: Group A: years 2012 to 2014 and group B: years 2015 to 2017. Results From 2012 to 2017 we identified 1091 patients with ACS. Of them 356 (32,6%) were women and NSTEMI (60%) was the most frequent type of ACS in this group. Women with ACS were older than men (73 vs 66 years) had more arterial hypertension (83,4% vs 68,3% p<0,001), diabetes mellitus (46,3% vs 30,9% p<0,001) and were less frequently smokers (6,5% vs 25,3% p<0,01). Dyspnea as the predominant symptom was more frequent in women (10,4% vs 5,2% p=0,002) who were less submitted to invasive strategy (63,2% vs 74,7% p<0,001) where non obstructive disease was more prevalent compared to men (9,8% vs 3,3% p<0,001). In-hospital mortality was greater in the women group (7,9% vs 3,7% p=0.005). There were no differences between groups in hospitalization or cardiovascular mortality over 1-year follow-up. When comparing Group A with Group B there were differences in hospitalization at 1 year (Group A 15,4% vs 9,3% p=0,029, Group B 11% vs 12,4% p=0,766), in-hospital women mortality (Group A 9,5% vs 3,6 p=0,005, Group B 5,8 vs 3,8% p=0,346) and coronary invasive angiography (Group A 61,2% vs 80,2% p<0,001 vs Group B 65,8 vs 68,5%, p=0,606). Conclusion Different demographic and clinical presentation as well as in-hospital and 1-year outcomes were present in our study population: while in Group A threre were significant gender differences regarding hospitalization and in-hospital mortality, those differences faded away in Group B. Efforts should be made to lessen gender differences in treatment and assistance knowing the different demographical and clinical patient profile.
Background Syncope is a serious complication of significant aortic valve stenosis. Left ventricular outflow obstruction, abnormal arterial and venous vasodilatation and arrhythmic events are usually the most common pathophysiological mechanisms. Structurally abnormal native valves with turbulent abnormal flow are a substrate for infective endocarditis in the elderly population. Clinical Case We report the case of an 74 year-old woman with a past history of hypertension, type II diabetes, dyslipidemia and degenerative severe aortic stenosis waiting valve replacement surgery who presented to the emergency department with syncope. Elevated inflammatory markers, fever and leukocyturia raised the hypothesis of urinary tract infection. Empirical antibiotic was initiated and the patient was admitted to the Internal Medicine ward. Evolution was unsatisfactory with evolution to cardiogenic shock. Urgent transthoracic echocardiogram showed dilated right cavities, mild pericardial effusion and high gradient flow between the left ventricle and right cavities with an unstructured calcified high mobility aortic valve with perivalvular abscess. Patient was transferred to a tertiary center for emergent surgery. A biologic aortic valve and pericardial bovine patch at the proximal membranous septum was implanted. Six-week empirical antibiotic treatment for endocarditis was completed after surgery. Initial blood cultures and native valve culture were negative. Residual restrictive left to right shunt was observed by TTE evaluation. The patient was discharged home and is doing well at follow-up. Conclusion Left-to-right shunt with subsequent cardiogenic shock is a non-common complication of aortic valve endocarditis. Patients presenting with syncope in the context of aortic stenosis must have a careful initial evaluation and mechanical complications excluded. Abstract P953 Figure. EuroEcho2019
Echocardiography (echo) remains the first-line imaging modality for the evaluation of cardiac masses. Three-dimensional (3D) echo, either transthoracic or transesophageal (TTE and TEE respectively), has allowed for better definition imaging, providing more information about the size, mobility, attachment and relation of these lesions with cardiac structures. Nevertheless, due to its superior tissue characterization capability, other imaging techniques, such as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), are very helpful in the differential diagnosis, making multimodality imaging the most attractive option for the study of intracardiac masses. We present the case of a 85 year-old male, with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (under effective anticoagulation), type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, referred for the study of an asymptomatic cardiac mass found in a routine TTE. There were no relevant findings on physical examination. The TTE showed a bilobar spheroid mass, in the right atrium, attached to the interatrial septum, with 33x23mm and regular edges. A 3D TEE was performed confirming the previous findings, but also showing extension of this mass through the fossa ovalis membrane, reaching the left atrium; this aspect raised the doubt about either protrusion or invasion of the left atrium and, respectively, a benign (like a myxoma) versus malignant behaviour (such as a sarcoma). To better characterize this lesion, a CMR was ordered, which revealed a bilobar heterogeneous mass, attached to the right side of the interatrial septum, at the fossa ovalis membrane, without signs of adjacent tissue invasion, namely unequivocal invasion of the left atrium; it presented with intermediate T1 signal, hyperintense T2 signal and heterogeneous pattern of gadolinium enhancement, features mostly in favour of a right atrial myxoma. The complimentary study found no other relevant changes, namely no findings suggestive of endocarditis (negative blood cultures), autoimmune disease or malignancy. The patient refused undergoing heart surgery and, therefore, kept follow-up with clinical and echocardiographic stability. Although histological examination remains the only tool for definitive diagnosis, multimodality imaging allows a quite comprehensive evaluation of intracardiac masses, enlightening the differential diagnosis. Here the imaging findings helped to establish a benign origin as the most likely, very important in this case of a probable right atrial myxoma, due to its peculiar protrusion to the left atrium through the fossa ovalis membrane. Abstract P887 Figure. atrial myxoma
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