Faculty Bibliography

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and targeted temperature management improve neurologic recovery, and survival for patients resuscitated from witnessed out-of-hospital ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association recently gave a class IIb recommendation for the use of TH for non-VT/VF and unwitnessed arrests. We explored changes in baseline characteristics, resource use, and outcomes after expanding indications for TH at our institution based on these guidelines. Fifty-six consecutive patients treated with TH for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were retrospectively evaluated based on whether they received treatment before (protocol 1) or after (protocol 2) broadening inclusion criteria. In protocol 1, TH was indicated after a witnessed VT/VF arrest. In protocol 2, TH was indicated for unwitnessed arrests, pulseless electrical activity, or asystole. Both populations undergoing TH had similarly extensive medical comorbidities and consumed considerable hospital resources. Overall, 64% of the patients from both protocols died in the hospital, although nominally lower mortality was seen in patients treated under protocol 1 compared with protocol 2 (59% vs. 67%, P = 0.57). Lower mortality was observed after VT/VF than after pulseless electrical activity or asystole (47% vs. 93% vs. 56%, P = 0.017). No patient survived following an unwitnessed arrest, and age (odds ratio per 10 years = 2.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-4.81) was independently associated with increased mortality. In an evolving field where best practice is still poorly defined, these data, along with future prospective studies in larger populations, should help to enhance care delivery and optimize cost-effectiveness strategies.

Few innovations in medicine have so convincingly and expeditiously improved patient outcomes more than the development of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Where optimal pharmacotherapy once routinely failed those with end-stage disease, the LVAD now offers considerable hope for the growing advanced heart failure population. Despite improvements in mortality, however, mechanical circulatory support is not without its limitations. Those supported with an LVAD are at increased risk of several complications, including infection, bleeding, stroke and arrhythmic events. While once considered benign, ventricular arrhythmias in the LVAD patient are being increasingly recognised for their deleterious influence on patient morbidity and quality of life. In addition, the often multifactorial aetiology to these episodes makes treatment difficult and optimal therapeutic management controversial. Novel strategies are clearly needed to better predict, prevent, and eradicate these arrhythmias in order to allow future generations of heart failure patients to reap the full benefits of LVAD implantation.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are an increasingly common treatment for end-stage systolic heart failure. However, there are limited data on how to best treat patients pharmacologically after LVAD implantation, resulting in uncertainty about which heart failure medications provide the most benefit. Still, some evidence exists that certain medical therapies can prevent remodeling and improve right ventricular and, possibly, left ventricular function. This article reviews the current literature for medical heart failure therapy in LVAD patients, and possible future treatment strategies.

BACKGROUND:The cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) has evolved into a complex patient-care environment with escalating acuity and increasing utilization of advanced technologies. These changing demographics of care may require greater clinical expertise among physician providers. Despite these changes, little is known about present-day staffing practices in US CICUs. METHODS AND RESULTS/RESULTS:We conducted a survey of 178 medical directors of ICUs caring for cardiac patients to assess unit structure and physician staffing practices. Data were obtained from 123 CICUs (69% response rate) that were mostly from academic medical centres. A majority of hospitals utilized a dedicated CICU (68%) and approximately half of those hospitals employed a 'closed' unit model. In 46% of CICUs, an intensivist consult was available, but not routinely involved in care of critically ill cardiovascular patients, while 11% did not have a board-certified intensivist available for consultation. Most CICU directors (87%) surveyed agreed that a closed ICU structure provided better care than an open ICU and 81% of respondents identified an unmet need for cardiologists with critical care training. CONCLUSIONS:We report contemporary structural models and staffing practices in a sample of US ICUs caring for critically ill cardiovascular patients. Although most hospitals surveyed had dedicated CICUs, a minority of CICUs employed a 'closed' CICU model and few had routine intensivist staffing. Most CICU directors agree that there is a need for cardiologists with intensivist training and expertise. These survey data reveal potential areas for continued improvement in US CICU organizational structure and physician staffing.

BACKGROUND:Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are pivotal treatment options for patients with end-stage heart failure. Despite robust left ventricular unloading, the right ventricle remains unsupported and susceptible to hemodynamic perturbations from ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Little is known about the epidemiology, management, resource use, and outcomes of sustained VAs in continuous-flow LVAD patients. METHODS:We reviewed data from all consecutive patients receiving a continuous-flow LVAD at the University of North Carolina from January 2006 to February 2011. Patient demographics, pharmacotherapies, resource use, and outcomes were recorded. Descriptive statistics were generated, and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the independent association of clinical variables on the development of postimplantation VAs. RESULTS:Of 61 patients, 26 (43%) had sustained VAs after LVAD. Most were male (65%), had history of hypertension (65%), and had nonischemic cardiomyopathy (62%). Patients with VAs after LVAD more often had preimplant VAs (62% vs 14%, P < .01), prior implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (92% vs 71%, P = .04), and history of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator discharge (38% vs 11%, P < .01). Although length of stay was similar, those with postimplant VAs had greater rehospitalization rates, greater antiarrhythmic drug use, and frequently required external defibrillation. Using multivariable logistic regression, only history of prior VA was associated with postimplant arrhythmias (odds ratio 13.7, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS:Ventricular arrhythmias in LVAD patients are common, often refractory to conservative therapy, and associated with frequent rehospitalization. Post-LVAD VAs, however, did not significantly impact survival or transplantation rates. Arrhythmia burden should be considered before LVAD placement, and future study should focus on the impact of VAs on quality of life.

Patients with prosthetic heart valves require chronic oral anticoagulation. In this clinical scenario, physicians must be mindful of the thromboembolic and bleeding risks related to chronic anticoagulant therapy. Currently, only vitamin K antagonists are approved for this indication. This paper reviews the main heart valve guidelines focusing on the use of oral anticoagulation in these patients.