Computational Simulator Models and Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring as Tools for Precision Medicine in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Precision medicine, providing the right therapeutic strategy for the right patient, could revolutionize management and prognosis of patients affected by cardiovascular diseases. Big data and artificial intelligence are pivotal for the realization of this ambitious design. In the setting of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the use of computational models and data derived from ambulatory implantable hemodynamic monitors could provide useful information for tailored treatment, as requested by precision medicine.

Management of Septic Shock in Two Pediatric Patients with Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis Using Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring

Outcomes may be better when invasive hemodynamic monitoring is used for managing patients with diabetic ketoacidosis associated with septic shock or hypotension. Keywords Diabetic ketoacidosis; Invasive hemodynamic monitoring; Septic shock

Successful Treatment of Severely Hypotensive Pediatric Patients with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) with the Guidance of Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring: A Report of Three Cases

Introduction: Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, it was assumed that infection rate in pediatric patients is lower than in adults and that infection is less severe in children than adult patients. Recently, there have been several reports and case series presenting critically-ill children with COVID-19, but still, severe hypotension is rare in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Case Presentation: We describe three pediatric cases with COVID-19 who presented with multi-system organ failure and severe hypotension treated with the guidance of the parameters of an invasive continuous hemodynamic monitoring device. We also compare their parameters with few articles on pediatric sepsis parameters. Conclusions: Although we usually start the treatment of hypotensive pediatric patients with hydration and epinephrine as an inotrope, in our cases, we required a different treatment plan according to the hemodynamic monitoring parameters, which indicates the value of the utilization of these devices in pediatric intensive care units

Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring in Cardiogenic Shock Is Associated With Lower In‐Hospital Mortality

Background There is increasing utilization of cardiogenic shock treatment algorithms. The cornerstone of these algorithms is the use of invasive hemodynamic monitoring (IHM). We sought to compare the in‐hospital outcomes in patients who received IHM versus no IHM in a real‐world contemporary database. Methods and Results Patients with cardiogenic shock admitted during October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018, were identified from the National Inpatient Sample. Among this group, we compared the outcomes among patients who received IHM versus no IHM. The primary end point was in‐hospital mortality. Secondary end points included vascular complications, major bleeding, need for renal replacement therapy, length of stay, cost of hospitalization, and rate of utilization of left ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation. Propensity score matching was used for covariate adjustment. A total of 394 635 (IHM=62 565; no IHM=332 070) patients were included. After propensity score matching, 2 well‐matched groups were compared (IHM=62 220; no IHM=62 220). The IHM group had lower in‐hospital mortality (24.1% versus 30.6%, P <0.01), higher percentages of left ventricular assist devices (4.4% versus 1.3%, P <0.01) and heart transplantation (1.3% versus 0.7%, P <0.01) utilization, longer length of hospitalization and higher costs. There was no difference between the 2 groups in terms of vascular complications, major bleeding, and the need for renal replacement therapy. Conclusions Among patients with cardiogenic shock, the use of IHM is associated with a reduction in in‐hospital mortality and increased utilization of advanced heart failure therapies. Due to the observational nature of the current study, the results should be considered hypothesis‐generating, and future prospective studies confirming these findings are needed.

Alternative methods to assess cardiac index: different parameters for physicians when swan-ganz catheter is not available

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Sanatorium Mitre Introduction invasive hemodynamic monitoring with Swan-Ganz catheter (SGC) has been the gold standard to determine the cardiac index. However, in many centres is not always available, and the Fick method is also validated for that purpose, but without the same accuracy. There are other used laboratory parameters; nonetheless there is lack of evidence about its association with the cardiac index. We aim to describe the association between these parameters and the patient"s hemodynamic condition. Objectives to assess the association between hemodynamic parameters obtained by SGC and data obtained with a jugular central venous catheter, in critically ill cardiac patients hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit. Methods prospective, double-blind, observational study, conducted from September 2019 to November 2020. A total of 45 patients with SGC were enrolled. We measured cardiac output and cardiac index (by thermodilution method and Fick estimated method), other hemodynamic parameters, lactic acid, central venous oxygen saturation (CVO2) and venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide difference (VACO2). The variables were analysed with t-test, Wilcoxon and chi2, as appropriate. Statistical significance was assumed when p was less than .05. Results we analysed 45 patients (mean age 58 years; 87% men; 23% postoperative cardiac surgery subjects; mean ejection fraction 30%). We registered a 6% in-hospital mortality and the mean in-hospital stay was 19 days (IQR 25-75: 8-25). We observed a significative correlation between impaired cardiac index (≤2.2 L/min/m2) obtained by SGC and Fick method (r 0.43; p= .0041). Elevated lactic acid and reduced CVO2 were not well correlated with impaired cardiac index (r 0.51, CI 95%: 0.32-0.71; r 0.30, CI 95%: 0.13-0.48; respectively). Among patients with impaired cardiac index, all of them had a VACO2 over 7 mmHg. The c-statistic to predict impaired cardiac index using VACO2 over 7 mmHg was 0.66 (CI 95%: 0.48-0.84), correlation not observed for the CVO2 values. Elevated lactic acid (≤1.9 mmol/L) was only associated with noradrenaline infusion over 0.7 g/kg/min (c-statistic 0.55; p= .0002). Conclusions when invasive hemodynamic monitoring with SGC is not available, the VACO2 value over 7 mmHg (obtained with a central venous catheter) appeared to be a better predictor of impaired cardiac index than the determination of CVO2. The Fick method was an acceptable replacement of the invasive monitoring. Also, noradrenaline infusion over 0.7 g/kg/min, but not cardiac index or other laboratory parameters, showed a better correlation with elevated lactic acid.

Evolving Cardiac Electrical Therapies for Advanced Heart Failure Patients

Symptomatic heart failure (HF) patients despite optimal medical therapy and advances such as invasive hemodynamic monitoring remain challenging to manage. While cardiac resynchronization therapy remains a highly effective therapy for a subset of HF patients with wide QRS, a majority of symptomatic HF patients are poor candidates for such. Recently, cardiac contractility modulation, neuromodulation based on carotid baroreceptor stimulation, and phrenic nerve stimulation have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and are emerging as therapeutic options for symptomatic HF patients. This state-of-the-art review examines the role of these evolving electrical therapies in advanced HF.