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Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)–associated infections may be life-threatening and impact patients' outcome. We aimed to identify the characteristics, risk factors, and prognosis of LVAD-associated infections. Patients included in the ASSIST-ICD study (19 centers) were enrolled. The main outcome was the occurrence of LVAD-associated infection (driveline infection, pocket infection, or pump/cannula infection) during follow-up. Of the 652 patients enrolled, 201 (30.1%) presented a total of 248 LVAD infections diagnosed 6.5 months after implantation, including 171 (26.2%), 51 (7.8%), and 26 (4.0%) percutaneous driveline infection, pocket infection, or pump/cannula infection, respectively. Patients with infections were aged 58.7 years, and most received HeartMate II (82.1%) or HeartWare (13.4%). Most patients (62%) had implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) before LVAD, and 104 (16.0%) had ICD implantation, extraction, or replacement after the LVAD surgery. Main pathogens found among the 248 infections were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 113’ 45.4%), Enterobacteriaceae (n = 61; 24.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 34; 13.7%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 13; 5.2%), and Candida species (n = 13; 5.2%). In multivariable analysis, HeartMate II (subhazard ratio, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.36; P = .031) and ICD-related procedures post-LVAD (subhazard ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03-1.98; P = .031) were significantly associated with LVAD infections. Infections had no detrimental impact on survival. Left ventricular assist device–associated infections affect one-third of LVAD recipients, mostly related to skin pathogens and gram-negative bacilli, with increased risk with HeartMate II as compared with HeartWare, and in patients who required ICD-related procedures post-LVAD. This is a plea to better select patients needing ICD implantation/replacement after LVAD implantation.

Non–vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are currently recommended for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation since the publication of the 4 major pivotal trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of factor IIa and factor Xa inhibitors. The definition of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is unclear, varying from one trial to another and even between North American and European guidelines, which is a source of uncertainties in clinical practice. However, many patients with atrial fibrillation present signs of valvular involvement, and clarification of this term is needed to not deny NOACs to patients based on the wrong perception that they may have valvular atrial fibrillation. The currently unique contraindications to NOACs are patients with mechanical heart valves and those with moderate-to-severe mitral stenosis, as stated by the recent 2015 position paper of the European Heart Rhythm Association. Patients with native heart valve involvement, regardless of their severity, are suitable for NOAC therapy. Patients with bioprosthetic heart valves and mitral valve repair may be suitable for NOACs except for the first 3 and the first 3-6 months postoperatively, respectively. Patients with transaortic valve implantation or percutaneous transluminal aortic valvuloplasty are also considered as being eligible for NOACs, although the bleeding risk has to be carefully considered in this population often requiring a combination with antiplatelet therapy. Future studies are warranted to increase the level of evidence of use of NOACs, particularly in patients with transaortic valve implantation and valvular surgery, and to determine whether they could be used in the future in the only 2 remaining contraindications.

LVAD implantation in patients with a recently diagnosed cardiomyopathy has been poorly investigated. This work aims at describing the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving a LVAD within 30 days following the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. Patients from the ASSIST-ICD study was divided into recently and remotely diagnosed cardiomyopathy based on the time from initial diagnosis of cardiomyopathy to LVAD implantation using the cut point of 30 days. The primary end point of the study was all-cause mortality at 30-day and during follow-up. A total of 652 patients were included and followed during a median time of 9.1 (2.5 to 22.1) months. In this population, 117 (17.9%) had a recently diagnosed cardiomyopathy and had LVAD implantation after a median time of 15.0 (9.0 to 24.0) days following the diagnosis. This group of patients was significantly younger, with more ischemic cardiomyopathy, more sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) events at the time of the diagnosis and were more likely to receive temporary mechanical support before LVAD compared with the remotely diagnosed group. Postoperative in-hospital survival was similar in groups, but recently diagnosed patients had a better long-term survival after hospital discharge. SCA before LVAD and any cardiac surgery combined with LVAD implantation were identified as 2 independent predictors of postoperative mortality in recently diagnosed patients. In conclusion, rescue LVAD implantation for recently diagnosed severe cardiomyopathy is common in clinical practice. Such patients experience a relatively low postoperative mortality and have a better long-term survival compared with remotely diagnosed patients.

Abstract ObjectiveWe developed a detailed imaging phenotype of the cerebral complications in critically ill patients with infective endocarditis (IE) and determine whether any specific imaging pattern could impact prognostic information.MethodsOne hundred ninety-two patients admitted to the intensive care units of seven tertiary centers with severe, definite left IE and neurological complications were included. All underwent cerebral imaging few days after admission to define the types of lesions, their volumes, and their locations using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM). We employed uni- and multi-variate logistic regression analyses to explore the associations among imaging features and other prognostic variables and the 6-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score.ResultsIschemic lesions were the most common lesions (75%; mean volume, 15.3 ± 33 mL) followed by microbleeds (50%; mean number, 4 ± 7.5), subarachnoidal hemorrhages (20%), hemorrhagic strokes (16%; mean volume, 14.6 ± 21 mL), and hemorrhagic transformations (10%; mean volume, 5.6 ± 11 mL). The volume of hemorrhagic transformations, the severity of leukopathy, and the compromises of certain locations on the motor pathway from the VLSM were associated with a poor 6-month mRS score on univariate analyses. However, upon multivariate analyses, no such specific imaging pattern independently predicted the mRS; this was instead influenced principally by age (OR = 1.03 [1.004–1.06]) and cardiac surgery status (OR = 0.06 [0.02–0.16]) in the entire cohort, and by age (OR = 1.04 [1.01–1.08]) and Staphylococcus aureus status (OR = 2.86 [1.19–6.89]) in operated patients.ConclusionsIn a cohort of severely ill IE patients with neurological complications, no specific imaging pattern could be highlighted as a reliable predictor of prognosis.

The residual risk of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) remains difficult to evaluate. The impact of left ventricular (LV) wall thickness (WT) measured using computed tomography (CT) on the occurrence of VA after CRT implantation has never been investigated. In this pilot study, we examined the association of LV WT and the occurrence of VA in NICM patients receiving CRT. Thirty three patients with NICM scheduled for CRT underwent preprocedural CT. Reduced LV WT was defined as WT <6 mm and quantified as a percentage of total LV area. The end point was the occurrence of VA episode during 2-years follow-up after CRT implantation. During the 2-years follow-up, a total of 37 VA episodes occurred in 6 (18.2%) patients. Patients with VA exhibited significantly higher NT-pro BNP level before CRT implantation. Additionally, CT analysis showed that patients with VA had a higher percentage of total LV with reduced WT compared with those free from VA (49.5% vs 25.8%, respectively; p = 0.005). In multivariable analysis, the total percentage of LV area with WT <6 mm was the only predictor of VA (odds ratio 1.07 [1.00 to 1.14]; p = 0.047). Receiver-operator curves analysis for total percentage of LVWT <6 mm demonstrated that an optimal cut-off value of 40% differentiated patients at risk of VA. In conclusion, LVWT evaluated using cardiac CT is an independent predictor of VA in NICM patients implanted with CRT. Patients with a total percentage of LVWT <6 mm ≥40% are especially at high risk of VA after CRT implantation.

Aims Refractory electrical storm (ES) is a life‐threatening condition in which heart transplantation (HTx) can be proposed. Nevertheless, the shortage of donors and subsequent outcomes question its place as a rescue strategy. We aim to describe the prognosis of ES patients listed for HTx but not transplanted. Methods and results Patients registered on urgent HTx waiting list for refractory ES without being transplanted during initial hospitalization were retrospectively included in five French centres from 2010 to 2022. The primary endpoint was 1‐year all‐cause mortality. Forty patients were included [90% men; 56.5 (50.0–61.3) years old; 63.6% and 24.2% dilated and ischaemic cardiomyopathies]. Among them, 84.6% received amiodarone, 64.1% received beta‐blockers; 50.0% required deep sedation, 35.0% mechanical circulatory support, 10.0% stellate ganglion block; and 57.5% underwent catheter ablation. At 1 year, 20 patients (50.0%) died, including 14 in‐hospital deaths (35.0%). Within six patients who died post‐discharge, four previously underwent HTx, and one received VAD implantation. Twenty patients (50.0%) were still alive at 1 year: 10 underwent HTx, 1 received VAD implantation followed by subsequent HTx, while another underwent VAD implantation as destination therapy. Finally, five (12.5%) were removed from the HTx waiting list due to functional improvement, distinguished by a median LVEF of 45.0% (20.0%–45.0%). The remaining three patients (7.5%) were still registered on HTx waiting list. Conclusions Refractory ES is a critical condition with high short‐ and long‐term mortality. While HTx serves as a rescue strategy, rhythm management can sometimes overcome the critical phase, facilitating subsequent HTx under more favourable conditions or even allowing removal from the HTx waiting list.

We aimed at characterizing the impact of low and high body mass index (BMI) on outcomes after left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery and define the predictors of mortality in patients with abnormal BMI (low/high). This study was conducted in 19 centers from 2006 to 2016. Patients were divided based on their baseline BMI into 3 groups of BMI: low (BMI ≤18.5 kg/m²); normal (BMI = 18.5 to 24.99 kg/m²) and high (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) (including overweight (BMI = 25 to 29.99 kg/m²), and obesity (BMI ≥30 Kg/m²)). Among 652 patients, 29 (4.4%), 279 (42.8%) and 344 (52.8%) had a low-, normal-, and high BMI, respectively. Patients with high BMI were significantly more likely men, with more co-morbidities and more history of ventricular/supra-ventricular arrhythmias before LVAD implantation. Patients with abnormal BMI had significantly lower survival than those with normal BMI. Notably, those with low BMI experienced the worst survival whereas overweight or obese patients had similar survival. Four predictors of mortality for LVAD candidates with abnormal BMI were defined: total bilirubin ≥16 µmol/L before LVAD, hypertension, destination therapy, and cardiac surgery with LVAD. Depending on the number of predictor per patients, those with abnormal BMI may be divided in 3 groups of 1-year mortality risk, i.e., low (0 to 1 predictor: 29% and 31%), intermediate (2 to 3 predictors, 51% and 52%, respectively), and high (4 predictors: 83%). In conclusion, LVAD recipients with abnormal BMI experience lower survival, especially underweight patients. Four predictors of mortality have been identified for LVAD population with abnormal BMI, differentiating those a low-, intermediate-, and high risks of death.

Atrial myocytes are continuously exposed to mechanical forces including shear stress. However, in atrial myocytes, the effects of shear stress are poorly understood, particularly with respect to its effect on ion channel function. Here, we report that shear stress activated a large outward current from rat atrial myocytes, with a parallel decrease in action potential duration. The main ion channel underlying the increase in current was found to be Kv1.5, the recruitment of which could be directly observed by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, in response to shear stress. The effect was primarily attributable to recruitment of intracellular pools of Kv1.5 to the sarcolemma, as the response was prevented by the SNARE protein inhibitor N -ethylmaleimide and the calcium chelator BAPTA. The process required integrin signaling through focal adhesion kinase and relied on an intact microtubule system. Furthermore, in a rat model of chronic hemodynamic overload, myocytes showed an increase in basal current despite a decrease in Kv1.5 protein expression, with a reduced response to shear stress. Additionally, integrin beta1d expression and focal adhesion kinase activation were increased in this model. This data suggests that, under conditions of chronically increased mechanical stress, the integrin signaling pathway is overactivated, leading to increased functional Kv1.5 at the membrane and reducing the capacity of cells to further respond to mechanical challenge. Thus, pools of Kv1.5 may comprise an inducible reservoir that can facilitate the repolarization of the atrium under conditions of excessive mechanical stress.

Conduction disturbances remain common following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Aside from high-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB), their optimal management remains elusive. Invasive electrophysiological studies (EPS) may help stratify patients at low or high risk of HAVB allowing for an early discharge or permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation among patients with conduction disturbances. We evaluated the safety and diagnostic performances of an EPS-guided PPM implantation strategy among TAVI recipients with conduction disturbances not representing absolute indications for PPM. All patients who underwent TAVI at a single expert center from June 2017 to July 2020 who underwent an EPS during the index hospitalization were included in the present study. False negative outcomes were defined as patients discharged without PPM implantation who required PPM for HAVB within 6 months of the initial EPS. False positive outcomes were defined as patients discharged with a PPM with a ventricular pacing percentage <1% at follow-up. A total of 78 patients were included (median age 83.5, 39% female), among whom 35 patients (45%) received a PPM following EPS. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the EPS-guided PPM implantation strategy were 100%, 89.6%, 81.5%, and 100%, respectively. Six patients suffered a mechanical HAVB during EPS and received a PPM. These 6 patients showed PPM dependency at follow-up. In conclusion, an EPS-guided PPM implantation strategy for managing post-TAVI conduction disturbances appears effective to identify patients who can be safely discharged without PPM implantation.

BackgroundHigh-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB) is a common complication of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). HAVB in STEMI is historically considered as a marker of worse outcome but overall data about HAVB in the contemporary era of mechanical reperfusion and potent antiplatelet therapies are scarce.AimAnalysing incidence, clinical correlates and impact on inhospital outcomes of HAVB in a large prospective registry (Observatoire Régional Breton sur l'Infarctus, ORBI) of modern management of STEMI with a special focus on potential differences between patients with HAVB on admission and those who developed HAVB during hospitalisation.MethodsAll patients enrolled in ORBI between June 2006 and December 2013 were included in the present analysis and were divided into 3 groups: patients without HAVB at any time, patients with HAVB on admission and those who developed HAVB during hospitalisation.ResultsA total of 6662 patients (age: 62.0 (52.0–74.0) years; male: 76.3%) were included in the present analysis. HAVB was documented in 3.5% of patients, present on admission in 63.7% of patients and occurring during hospitalisation in 36.3%. Patients with HAVB on admission or occurring during the first 24 h of hospitalisation had higher inhospital mortality rates (18.1% and 28.6%, respectively) than patients without (4.5%) or with HAVB occurring beyond the first 24 h of hospitalisation (8.0%). However by multivariable analysis, HAVB was not independently associated with inhospital mortality contrarily to age, presentation as cardiac arrest, anterior STEMI location, reperfusion therapy, cardiogenic shock, mechanical ventilation and occurrence of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias or mechanical complication.ConclusionsPatients with HAVB had a higher mortality rate than patients without. However HAVB is not an independent predictor of inhospital mortality.