Faculty Bibliography

Right ventricular (RV) enlargement or dysfunction evaluation is the cornerstone for diagnosis, prognostications, and treatment planning in a variety of cardiovascular conditions. Cardiac MR imaging (CMR) is the superior imaging modality for RV assessment, providing accurate and reproducible measurements of flow, volumes and ejection fraction. Besides tissue characterization and myocardial strain, novel features such as 4D flow, diffuse tensor imaging, RV coupling, deep learning, and computational fluid dynamics may improve our diagnostic capabilities. This article is an overview of the current state and addresses new advances and innovations in assessing RV involvement using CMR.

Cardiomyopathies represent a diverse group of heart diseases that can be broadly classified into ischemic and nonischemic etiologies, each requiring distinct diagnostic approaches. Noninvasive imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), play a pivotal role in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognosis of these conditions. This paper reviews the characteristic CT and MRI findings associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), focusing on their ability to provide detailed anatomical, functional, and tissue characterization. In ICM, CT and MRI reveal myocardial scarring, infarct size, and coronary artery disease, while MRI further distinguishes tissue viability through late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Conversely, nonischemic cardiomyopathies demonstrate a wide array of findings, with MRI's LGE pattern analysis being particularly critical for identifying specific subtypes, such as restrictive, hypertrophic, or dilated cardiomyopathies. By comparing the strengths and limitations of these modalities, this paper highlights their complementary roles in improving diagnostic accuracy, risk stratification, prognosis, and therapeutic decision making in both ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies.

Patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and its variants rely on the right ventricle (RV) to provide cardiac output. Diminished RV systolic function has been associated with poor clinical outcomes in this population. Echocardiographic strain has emerged as a useful method to quantify RV deformation. We aimed to describe fetal strain in the systemic RV and further investigate if there was any correlation with clinical outcomes. We conducted a retrospective, single center study evaluating strain in fetuses with systemic RV. We measured fetal RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and segmental strain using Tomtec 2D speckle tracking software and compared these findings to controls. Fifty patients with systemic RV were included in the study group with controls matched one to one for each echocardiogram. Ten patients died after first-stage palliation. GLS was reproducible, with interobserver ICC 0.82. There was no statistically significant difference in GLS among different HLHS subtypes. Abnormal GLS did not correlate with worse clinical outcomes. GLS in systemic RVs in the 2nd and 3rd trimester did not vary significantly throughout gestation and did not correlate with clinical outcomes. Risk factors associated with poor outcome were mainly postnatal. Multi-centered studies are needed to determine if these findings hold true in a larger sample size.

We present a case of a vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM), a rare congenital arteriovenous malformation, in one fetus of a monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy. The diagnosis was made with color Doppler ultrasonography at 28 weeks and the affected fetus was found to have worsening cardiomegaly on subsequent fetal echocardiograms. She was emergently delivered at 32 weeks for abnormal fetal heart rate tracing of the affected twin. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain findings after delivery demonstrated severe neurological injury; therefore, postnatal embolization was not performed. The neonate died on day of life 9. The cotwin survived without neurological complications. This is the first case in the literature of a VGAM diagnosed prenatally in a monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy and demonstrates the challenge of delivery timing with prenatal diagnosis in a twin pregnancy.

CONTEXT/UNASSIGNED:Cardiac injury has been described in both acute COVID-19 and the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Echocardiographic strain has been shown to be a sensitive measure of systolic function. AIMS/UNASSIGNED:We sought to describe strain findings in both the groups on initial presentation and follow-up. SETTINGS AND DESIGN/UNASSIGNED:A retrospective study analyzing echocardiograms of all patients presenting with acute COVID-19 infection and MIS-C at our institution between March 2020 and December 2020 was performed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS/UNASSIGNED:TOMTEC software was used for strain analysis in both the study groups (COVID-19 and MIS-C) and age-matched healthy controls. Strain was correlated with LV ejection fraction (EF) and serum troponin levels. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:= 0.002) and troponin in patients with MIS-C. Abnormal strain persisted in one-third of patients in the MIS-C and acute COVID-19 groups on outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:Patients with MIS-C and acute COVID-19 can develop myocardial dysfunction as seen by abnormal strain. LV longitudinal strain correlates with cardiac injury as measured by serum troponin in patients with MIS-C. Strain may provide an additional tool in detecting subtle myocardial dysfunction. It can be routinely employed at diagnosis and at follow-up evaluation of these patients.

Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with aortic coarctation, dissection and dilation/aneurysm. Predictors of dissection are not well delineated, making decisions regarding prophylactic root replacement challenging. In other disorders, arterial tortuosity is an imaging biomarker associated with increased risk for aortic dissection and adverse cardiovascular events. We aimed to determine if, in TS, arterial tortuosity was associated with aortic dilation or aortic events. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of unselected women and children with TS who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for a prior prospective study. We calculated tortuosity indices including vertebral artery tortuosity index, aortic arch tortuosity index, thoracic aortic tortuosity index (ATI-D), and aortic tortuosity index to the celiac artery (ATI-C). We compared tortuosity in TS patients against age and gender matched controls. We evaluated univariable and multivariable associations between the tortuosity indices and aortic root and ascending aorta size as defined by z-scores, which give a sense of how far a measurement deviates from the mean. We also studied associations between tortuosity and need for aortic root replacement or aortic dissection. Of 184 subjects, with median age 34 years, mean general aortic root z-score was 0.1 ± 1.2 and mean general ascending aortic z-score was 0.4 ± 1.5. Three patients had aortic dissection, and one had prophylactic root replacement, which all occurred prior to first MRA. Vertebral tortuosity index, ATI-D, and ATI-C all increased with age (p < 0.0001) for all. ATI-C was associated with larger general ascending z-score. In multivariable analysis, ATI-C remained independently associated with larger ascending aortic z-scores. The relationship between aortic indices and surgery/dissection could not be evaluated since all were collected post-surgery/dissection. Thoracic aortic tortuosity as measured by ATI-C is independently associated with larger ascending aortic dimensions. In this population with only three aortic dissections occurring prior to imaging assessment, we could not assess for associations between aortic tortuosity and dissection. Studies including more patients with aortic dissection are needed to draw further conclusions.

BACKGROUND:Little is known regarding right ventricular (RV) remodeling immediately after Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. We sought to describe myocardial deformation by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) after TOF repair and investigate associations between these parameters and early post-operative outcomes. METHODS:Fifteen infants underwent CMR without sedation as part of a prospective pilot study after undergoing complete TOF repair, prior to hospital discharge. RV deformation (strain) was measured using tissue tracking, in addition to RV ejection fraction (EF), volumes, and pulmonary regurgitant fraction. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine associations between both strain and CMR measures/clinical outcomes. RESULTS:Most patients were male (11/15, 73%), with median age at TOF repair 53 days (interquartile range, 13,131). Most patients had pulmonary stenosis (vs. atresia) (11/15, 73%) and 7 (47%) received a transannular patch as part of their repair. RV function was overall preserved with mean RV EF of 62% (standard deviation [SD], 9.8). Peak radial and longitudinal strain were overall diminished (mean ± SD, 33.80 ± 18.30% and -15.50 ± 6.40%, respectively). Longer hospital length of stay after TOF repair was associated with worse RV peak radial ventricular strain (correlation coefficient (r), -0.54; p = 0.04). Greater pulmonary regurgitant fraction was associated with shorter time to peak radial RV strain (r = -0.55, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS:In this small study, our findings suggest presence of early decrease in RV strain after TOF repair and its association with hospital stay when changes in EF and RV size are not yet apparent.

Importance/UNASSIGNED:There is clinical equipoise for COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) use in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Objective/UNASSIGNED:To determine the safety and efficacy of CCP compared with placebo in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving noninvasive supplemental oxygen. Design, Setting, and Participants/UNASSIGNED:CONTAIN COVID-19, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of CCP in hospitalized adults with COVID-19, was conducted at 21 US hospitals from April 17, 2020, to March 15, 2021. The trial enrolled 941 participants who were hospitalized for 3 or less days or presented 7 or less days after symptom onset and required noninvasive oxygen supplementation. Interventions/UNASSIGNED:A unit of approximately 250 mL of CCP or equivalent volume of placebo (normal saline). Main Outcomes and Measures/UNASSIGNED:The primary outcome was participant scores on the 11-point World Health Organization (WHO) Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement on day 14 after randomization; the secondary outcome was WHO scores determined on day 28. Subgroups were analyzed with respect to age, baseline WHO score, concomitant medications, symptom duration, CCP SARS-CoV-2 titer, baseline SARS-CoV-2 serostatus, and enrollment quarter. Outcomes were analyzed using a bayesian proportional cumulative odds model. Efficacy of CCP was defined as a cumulative adjusted odds ratio (cOR) less than 1 and a clinically meaningful effect as cOR less than 0.8. Results/UNASSIGNED:Of 941 participants randomized (473 to placebo and 468 to CCP), 556 were men (59.1%); median age was 63 years (IQR, 52-73); 373 (39.6%) were Hispanic and 132 (14.0%) were non-Hispanic Black. The cOR for the primary outcome adjusted for site, baseline risk, WHO score, age, sex, and symptom duration was 0.94 (95% credible interval [CrI], 0.75-1.18) with posterior probability (P[cOR<1] = 72%); the cOR for the secondary adjusted outcome was 0.92 (95% CrI, 0.74-1.16; P[cOR<1] = 76%). Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested heterogeneity of treatment effect: at day 28, cORs were 0.72 (95% CrI, 0.46-1.13; P[cOR<1] = 93%) for participants enrolled in April-June 2020 and 0.65 (95% CrI, 0.41 to 1.02; P[cOR<1] = 97%) for those not receiving remdesivir and not receiving corticosteroids at randomization. Median CCP SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing titer used in April to June 2020 was 1:175 (IQR, 76-379). Any adverse events (excluding transfusion reactions) were reported for 39 (8.2%) placebo recipients and 44 (9.4%) CCP recipients (P = .57). Transfusion reactions occurred in 2 (0.4) placebo recipients and 8 (1.7) CCP recipients (P = .06). Conclusions and Relevance/UNASSIGNED:In this trial, CCP did not meet the prespecified primary and secondary outcomes for CCP efficacy. However, high-titer CCP may have benefited participants early in the pandemic when remdesivir and corticosteroids were not in use. Trial Registration/UNASSIGNED:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04364737.

PURPOSE:To assess the efficacy of dry heat application in children with difficult intravenous (IV) access. DESIGN AND METHODS:A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the pediatric wards of a tertiary care hospital in a Metropolitan city in South India. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, children in the age group of 5-18 years were randomized into intervention and control groups of 42 children each. The intervention was an electric heating pad (40°C) applied at the site of the identified IV access for 10 min before IV insertion. Outcomes included the number of IV attempts, the time required to access the IV line, and the discomfort level of the child expressed in terms of the Oucher scale. RESULTS:(1, 84) = 18.02, p < .001. Results from regression analyses supported the unadjusted outcomes comparisons between the two groups. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:Dry heat application before IV line insertion significantly improves the ease of venepuncture and reduces the pain perceived by the patient. This method of IV cannulation can be adopted in children with problematic IV access.