European heart journal. Acute cardiovascular care
-
Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Dec 2016
ReviewExtracorporeal life support for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Part of a treatment bundle.
In recent years, an increasing number of papers have been published on the use of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in adult patients, but, although promising results have been reported in patients with in-hospital refractory cardiac arrest supported by extracorporeal life support (ECLS), data on patients with out-of-hospital (OHCA) cardiac arrest are scarce and conflicting. The present study aims at summarizing the available evidence on the use of ECPR in adult patients with OHCA, clinically focusing on the factors most often associated with outcome in these patients. ⋯ According to the available evidence, three factors seem to contribute strongly to the favorable outcome of ECLS supported OHCA patients: (a) selection of patients (mainly definition of age range and a witnessed cardiac arrest); (b) the availability of an ECLS team, well skilled and experienced (to reduce time of implantation and incidence of complications); (c) a multifaceted approach to the OHCA patient (the so-called ECLS-bundle) to treat the reversible cause of CA (i.e. percutaneous coronary intervention), ensure neuroprotection (hypothermia), and maintain organ perfusion (till recovery). Taking into account the promising results of ECPR in selected OHCA patients, there is a clinical need for shared protocols to reduce differences related to the center experience and mostly to increase availability of ECLS as part of a multifaceted approach for these patients.
-
Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Dec 2016
Review Case ReportsST-segment elevation in V1-V4 in acute pulmonary embolism: a case presentation and review of literature.
Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are seen in 70%-80% of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Rarely, APE presents with ST-segment elevation (STE) in leads V1-V4, mimicking ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Herein, we describe a case of APE presenting with STE in V1-V3, along with a comprehensive review of the literature. ⋯ STE in leads V1-V3/V4 in cases with APE identifies a subset of patients who are an intermediate to high risk category. In cases presenting with right precordial lead STE and clinical features that are more suggestive of APE rather than STEMI, a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram is warranted for earlier diagnosis of suspected APE, which allow for immediate-rather than delayed-initiation of therapeutic anticoagulant therapy if the diagnosis is confirmed and may avert the need for coronary angiography.
-
Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Dec 2016
Prognostic value of different biomarkers for cardiovascular death in unselected older patients in the emergency department.
Risk stratification of elderly patients presenting with heart failure (HF) to an emergency department (ED) is an unmet challenge. We prospectively investigated the prognostic performance of different biomarkers in unselected older patients in the ED. ⋯ Within different biomarkers, MR-proADM was the only predictor of cardiovascular deaths in unselected older patients presenting to the ED.
-
Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Dec 2016
Observational StudyMonitoring of left ventricular assist device implantation and set-up with miniaturized transoesophageal echocardiography: Initial experience at La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital and possible application fields.
Left ventricular assist devices are valuable options for mechanical circulatory support in patients with severe heart failure as a bridge to cardiac transplantation, to recovery, or as destination therapy. Transoesophageal echocardiography plays a key role in the management of left ventricular assist device patients; either in guiding the device implantation or in post-operative haemodynamic assessment. The aim of this observational study is to investigate the usefulness of a miniaturized transoesophageal echocardiography probe designed for continuous haemodynamic monitoring (haemodynamic transoesophageal echocardiography; ImaCor, Garden City, NY) in the haemodynamic assessment of patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation. ⋯ This observation suggests that haemodynamic monitoring using the haemodynamic transoesophageal echocardiography system in left ventricular assist device patients is feasible after a brief training period. The overall impact of haemodynamic transoesophageal echocardiography use in these patients is yet to be determined and further studies are still required.
-
We present a rare image documenting direct transit of a thrombus originating from the venous circulation and passing through a patent foramen ovale linked to a malpositioned cannula in the setting of temporary mechanical circulatory assistance in a young patient who underwent a peripheral extra corporeal membrane oxygenation as a circulatory support.