Clinical Outcomes Associated with Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support Utilization in Heart Failure Related Cardiogenic Shock

Background : Cardiogenic shock occurring in the setting of advanced heart failure (HF-CS) is increasingly common. However, recent studies have focused almost exclusively on acute myocardial infarction related cardiogenic shock. We sought to define clinical, hemodynamic, metabolic, and treatment parameters associated with clinical outcomes among HF-CS patients, using data from the Cardiogenic Shock Working Group (CSWG) Registry. Methods : Patients with HF-CS were identified from the multi-center CSWG registry and divided into 3 outcome categories assessed at hospital discharge: mortality, heart replacement therapy (HRT: durable ventricular assist device [VAD] or orthotopic heart transplant [OHT]), or native heart survival (NHS). Clinical characteristics, hemodynamic, laboratory parameters, drug therapies, acute mechanical circulatory support device (AMCS) utilization, and Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) stages were compared across the 3 outcome cohorts. Results : Of the 712 HF-CS patients identified, 180 (25.3%) died during their index admission, 277 (38.9%) underwent HRT (durable VAD or OHT), and 255 (35.8%) experienced NHS without HRT. Patients who died had the highest right atrial pressure and heart rate and the lowest mean arterial pressure of the 3 outcome groups (p<0.01 for all). Biventricular and isolated left-ventricular congestion were common among patients who died or underwent HRT, respectively. Lactate, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and aspartate aminotransferase were highest in HF-CS patients experiencing in-hospital death. Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was the most commonly used AMCS device in the overall cohort and among patients receiving HRT. Patients receiving more than one AMCS device had the highest in-hospital mortality rate irrespective of the number of vasoactive drugs used. Mortality decreased with deteriorating SCAI stages (stage B: 0%, stage C: 10.7%, stage D: 29.4%, stage E: 54.5%, 1-way ANOVA = <0.001). Conclusions : Patients with HF-CS experiencing in-hospital mortality had a high prevalence of biventricular congestion and markers of end-organ hypoperfusion. Substantial heterogeneity exists with use of AMCS in HF-CS with IABP being the most common device used and high rates of in-hospital mortality after exposure to more than one AMCS device.

Obesity and Outcomes Following Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support

Background: The association of obesity on outcomes in patients with cardiogenic shock requiring acute mechanical circulatory support has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: We evaluated the National Readmission Database for adults with either acute myocardial infarction or heart failure complicated by cardiogenic shock requiring acute mechanical circulatory support between January 2016 and November 2017. Exposure was assessed using International Classification of Diseases , Tenth Revision codes for the degree of obesity with the reference being body mass index (BMI) of 20.0 to 29.9 group. Multiple logistic regression and Cox regression analysis were used to analyze in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission, respectively. Results: The survey-weighted sample included a total of 35 555 hospitalizations with a mean age of 65.4±0.2 years and 29.8% females. Obesity was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (no obesity, 26.4% [BMI, 20.0–29.9] versus class I obesity, 25.0% [BMI, 30.0–34.9] versus class II obesity, 28.7% [BMI, 35.0–39.9] versus class III obesity, 34.9% [BMI, ≥40]; P <0.001). On stratified analysis, compared with a nonobese phenotype, younger adults (age <60) with class II and class III obesity (odds ratio, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.1–3.5], P =0.02; odds ratio, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.2–3.7], P =0.01) and older adults (age ≥60) with class III obesity (odds ratio, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.2–2.4], P =0.005) had higher mortality. There was no association between the degree of obesity and 30-day readmission. Conclusions: Among adults with acute myocardial infarction or acute heart failure resulting in cardiogenic shock requiring acute mechanical circulatory support, younger adults with class II and class III obesity and older patients with class III obesity have a higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared with nonobese patients.

Right Atrial Pressure Is Associated With Outcomes in Patient With Cardiogenic Shock Receiving Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support

Background: We describe the association between longitudinal hemodynamic changes and clinical outcomes in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) receiving acute mechanical circulatory support devices (AMCS) at a single center. We hypothesized that improved right atrial pressure is associated with better survival in CS.Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients from Tufts Medical Center that received AMCS for CS. Baseline characteristics and invasive hemodynamics were collected, analyzed, and correlated against outcomes. Hemodynamics were recorded at different time intervals during index admission [pre-AMCS, 24 h after AMCS (post AMCS), and last available set of hemodynamics (final-AMCS)]. Logistic regression was performed to determine variables associated with in-hospital mortality.Results: A total of 76 patients had longitudinal hemodynamics available. In hospital mortality occurred in 46% of the cohort. Mean baseline right atrial pressure (RAP) was significantly higher among non-survivors vs. survivors (19.5+6.6 vs. 16.4+5.3 mmHg). Change in right atrial pressure from baseline to before device removal (ΔRA:final AMCS—pre AMCS) was significantly different between survivors and non survivors (−6.5 ± 6.9 mmHg vs. −2.5 ± 6.2 mmHg p = 0.03). Unadjusted logistic regression revealed baseline RAP (OR: 1.1 95% CI: 1.0–1.2), 24 h post device implant RAP (OR: 1.3 95% CI: 1.1–1.4), and final RAP (OR: 1.3 95% CI: 1.1–1.5) to be significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. In a multivariate logistic regression baseline RAP was no longer significantly associated with mortality in the overall cohort, while 24 h (OR: 1.26 95% CI: 1.1–1.5) and final RAP (OR: 1.3 95% CI: 1.1–1.6) remained statistically significant.Conclusion: We report a novel retrospective analysis of hemodynamic changes in patients with CS receiving AMCS. Our findings identify the potential importance of venous congestion as a prognostic marker of mortality. Furthermore, early decongestion or reduced RA pressure is associated with better survival in these critically ill CS patients. These observations suggest the need for further study in larger retrospective and prospective cohorts of patients with varying degrees of CS severity.

The science of safety: complications associated with the use of mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock and best practices to maximize safety

Acute mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices are widely used in cardiogenic shock (CS) despite a lack of high-quality clinical evidence to guide their use. Multiple devices exist across a spectrum from modest to complete support, and each is associated with unique risks. In this review, we summarize existing data on complications associated with the three most widely used acute MCS platforms: the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), Impella systems, and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). We review evidence from available randomized trials and highlight challenges comparing complication rates from case series and comparative observational studies where a lack of granular data precludes appropriate matching of patients by CS severity. We further offer a series of best practices to help shock practitioners minimize the risk of MCS-associated complications and ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

Approach to Acute Cardiovascular Complications in COVID-19 Infection

The novel coronavirus disease 2019, otherwise known as COVID-19, is a global pandemic with primary respiratory manifestations in those who are symptomatic. It has spread to >187 countries with a rapidly growing number of affected patients. Underlying cardiovascular disease is associated with more severe manifestations of COVID-19 and higher rates of mortality. COVID-19 can have both primary (arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and myocarditis) and secondary (myocardial injury/biomarker elevation and heart failure) cardiac involvement. In severe cases, profound circulatory failure can result. This review discusses the presentation and management of patients with severe cardiac complications of COVID-19 disease, with an emphasis on a Heart-Lung team approach in patient management. Furthermore, it focuses on the use of and indications for acute mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic and/or mixed shock.

Nursing Management of Patients Requiring Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices

Topic The growing use of acute mechanical circulatory support devices to provide hemodynamic support that has accompanied the increasing prevalence of heart failure and cardiogenic shock, despite significant improvement in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Clinical Relevance The critical care nurse plays a crucial role in managing patients receiving acute mechanical circulatory support devices and monitoring for potential complications. Purpose To review the anatomical placement and mechanics of each type of device so that nurses can anticipate patients’ hemodynamic responses and avoid complications whenever possible, thereby improving patients’ clinical outcomes. Content Covered Nursing considerations regarding the intra-aortic balloon pump, the TandemHeart, the Impella, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.