Heart Lesions Research Articles

Virtual 3D reconstruction of complex congenital cardiac anatomy from 3D rotational angiography

BackgroundDespite advancements in imaging technologies, including CT scans and MRI, these modalities may still fail to capture intricate details of congenital heart defects accurately. Virtual 3D models have revolutionized the field of pediatric interventional cardiology by providing clinicians with tangible representations of complex anatomical structures. We examined the feasibility and accuracy of utilizing an automated, Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven, cloud-based platform for virtual 3D visualization of complex congenital heart disease obtained from 3D rotational angiography DICOM images.MethodsFive patients selected at random with 3DRA performed in the pediatric cardiac catheterization suite were selected. 3DRA’s were performed following published institutional protocols and segmentations performed by primary operators. The 3DRA DICOM images were anonymized as per protocol and exported. Images when then processed by Axial3D Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven cloud-based platform for virtual segmentation. Two separate expert operators were selected to subjectively analyze the segmentations and compare them to the operator reconstructions for anatomic accuracy.ResultsComparing results with local reconstructions by expert operators, five different patient anatomies were analyzed, showcasing Axial3D’s ability to produce highly detailed reconstructions with improved visual appeal, including color-coded segments for implanted materials like stents. The reconstructions exhibited superior segmentation of different intrathoracic structures when compared to local models, offering valuable insights for medical professionals and patients.ConclusionsThe use of the AI driven, cloud-based platform for 3D visualization of complex congenital heart lesions presents a promising advancement in pediatric interventional cardiology, facilitating enhanced patient care, procedural planning, and educational opportunities for trainees and patients alike.

The features of cardiomyopathy in AL and ATTR amyloidosis

Amyloidoses are protein misfolding diseases characterized by the accumulation of amyloid fibrils in the interstitium leading to the damage of an affected organ. Cardiac involvement is quite common and results from light chain amyloidosis (AL) or transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), including two subtypes: wild type (ATTRwt) and variant ATTR (ATTRv), which can lead to hereditary cardiac amyloidosis. Heart damage leads to life-threatening cardiomyopathy (CM) with poor prognosis. Besides the alteration of the tissue caused by the deposition of amyloid fibrils, experimental studies reveal some complex molecular mechanisms of the cytotoxic effects of amyloid. Although these effects are more prominent and defined in AL amyloidosis, they can also take place in ATTR and somehow affect the disease course. Analyzing the mechanisms on different levels is necessary for understanding of the development of the heart damage and prevention of progression of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of heart lesions and biochemical characteristics of AL and ATTR amyloidosis. This review was performed by searching the PubMed and Scopus databases for articles published until December 2023, using keywords such as “cardiomyopathy”, “AL amyloidosis”, “mass effect”, “cytotoxicity” and “ATTR amyloidosis”. Exclusion criteria included irrelevant articles and duplicates, with selected studies undergoing comprehensive review.

Prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease in Children and Adolescents Under 18 in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

There are limited population-based studies on congenital heart disease (CHD) in the pediatric population in Africa. Technological advancements in diagnostic tools have resulted in multiple echocardiographic studies in hospital settings. We aimed to determine the prevalence of CHD in both settings (population-based and hospital based) followed by comparing the two estimates for a difference. We systematically searched PubMed, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, and African Index Medicus for eligible studies from 1992 through 2022. We performed a meta-analysis using the random-effects model. We selected 42 studies; 10 population studies with 1,011,163 participants, and 32 hospital-based studies with 605,268 patients for the analyses. The population and hospital-based prevalence were 5.12 versus 12.63 per 1,000 population of children (P = .007). Ventricular septal defect was the most common type of CHD in both settings (0.61 vs 1.88 per 1,000), followed by atrial septal defect (0.26 vs 0.68 per 1,000). Tetralogy of Fallot was the most common cyanotic heart lesion in both settings (0.08 vs 0.52 per 1,000). The population-based prevalence of CHD was significantly lower than the hospital-based prevalence (5.12 vs 12.63 per 1,000 population of children). Juxtaposing these two prevalence estimates against each other can be a reasonable alternative to quantifying the contemporary burden of CHD in the pediatric population of Africa. Moving forward, efforts should bolster awareness of CHD in Africa, and further advocacy for children with CHD should be a priority on the continent.

A Rare Bond: Exploring the Heart-Hand Connection in Holt-Oram Syndrome

Holt-Oram syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by upper limb abnormalities in association with congenital heart lesions. We present you a 42 years old female having ostium secundum atrial septal defect (OS-ASD) and congenital upper limb deformity. Her X-ray of hands showed bilateral abnormal carpal bones with underdeveloped thumb. This study highlights the importance of recognizing the heart-hand connection in Holt-Oram syndrome and presents the need for multidisciplinary care and early intervention.

Multimodality Imaging Supports Cardiac Lesion Diagnosis in Patient With Liver Carcinoma: A Case Report

ABSTRACTIntroductionNonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a rare cardiac manifestation in patients with advanced malignancies of the lungs, pancreas, gynecological system, and gastrointestinal tract. It is often confirmed postmortem by histopathological evidence of sterile platelet‐fibrin deposits attached to the endocardium, most often on heart valves. To the best of our knowledge, our case is the first to report multiple heart lesions caused by the systemic effect of cholangiocarcinoma.Case PresentationWe report the case of a 53‐year‐old male who presented with a stroke; extensive imaging studies, including transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 2D/3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), cardiac multi‐slice computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance, found masses on the mitral valve, the aortic valve, and in the right ventricle, with the largest diameter 43 × 11 mm, which led to a diagnosis of NBTE secondary to presumed cholangiocarcinoma. Combining different echocardiography techniques, including TTE and TEE in specific clinical contexts, and training echocardiographers to improve TEE interpretation skills could be the most cost‐effective option for early diagnosis, particularly in limited‐resource settings, where advanced imaging modalities are not widely applicable.ConclusionsNBTE can manifest in patients with advanced cancer. A high index of clinical suspicion is of central importance for the diagnosis of NBTE, especially through an identification of the underlying predisposing conditions. A multi‐disciplinary approach is crucial for NBTE optimal diagnosis and treatment. As in our patient, multimodality imaging plays a complementary role in clearly defining the nature of cardiac lesions.

Short-Term Surgical Outcomes and Definitive Diagnosis in Patients With Congenital Cardiac Defects: A Single-Center Analysis.

Background With the rising number of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) reaching adulthood, surgical intervention has become a critical aspect of their long-term management. This study presents a six-year overview of early postoperative outcomes and mortality in CHD surgeries at a single center, underscoring advancements and challenges in treating this complex population. Objective As more children with CHDgrow into adulthood, we are gaining critical insights from our extensive experience in performing cardiac surgery for this population. This report details our six-year experience at a single center, highlighting short-term outcomes and in-hospital mortality rates. Methods We collected data on all consecutive patients with CHDwho underwent surgery between July 2018 and September 2024 in the Cardiac Surgery Department at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan. We evaluated early outcomes, including ventilation duration, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, total hospital stay, and mortality rates. Results A total of 250 procedures were performed on patients, with a mean age of 22.98 years (Range 1-78 years); 48.4% were male and 51.6% were female. Re-do procedures accounted for 2.4% of the total procedures. The most common procedures involved repair of septal defects (43.8%), right heart lesions (19.2%), and thoracic arterial and venous surgeries (16.8%). While the primary proceduresinvolved less complex cases, they included 15.2% tetralogy of Fallot repairs, 4.0% aortic coarctation repairs, and 1.2% repairs for Ebstein's disease. In-hospital mortality was recorded at 1.6%, with an overall survival rate of 98.4%. Conclusion Surgery in patients with CHD can be performed with low operative mortality and favorable clinical outcomes. Our findings demonstrate that, despite the complexities inherent to this population, most procedures yield successful results, contributing to a high overall survival rate. This underscores the importance of specialized surgical approaches and continuous management for CHD patients, emphasizing the potential for positive long-term outcomes in this growing demographic.

Determination of Genotype and Phenotypes in Pediatric Patients With Biventricular Noncompaction.

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a hereditary type of cardiomyopathy characterized by prominent trabeculations. Detailed characteristics of biventricular noncompaction (BiVNC) remain unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics and genetic landscape of BiVNC. We recruited children with left ventricular noncompaction from Japanese multi-institutional centers from 2013 to 2021. Left ventricular noncompaction was classified as BiVNC, congenital heart disease, arrhythmia, dilated cardiomyopathy, or normal function. In these patients, cardiomyopathy-associated genes were screened. A total of 234 patients (127 male; mean age, 4 months [range, 0-6.6 years]) were enrolled in this study, of whom 25 had BiVNC; 55, normal function; 84, dilated cardiomyopathy; 38, congenital heart disease; and 32, arrhythmia. BiVNC was diagnosed during the perinatal period in 10 patients, in whom the prevalence was higher than that in other patients. A total of 14 patients in the group with BiVNC had congenital heart disease, but not necessarily right heart lesions. Left ventricular dyskinesis was frequently observed in the lateral wall (24%) and apex (28%). Eleven pathogenic variants were found in 11 patients with BiVNC (44.0%). The group with BiVNC had a higher ratio of mitochondrial and developmental gene variants than the other groups. Among all groups, the group with BiVNC had the worst survival rate (P=0.0009). Pediatric patients with BiVNC had a high rate of ventricular dyskinesis and poor outcome. A comprehensive and careful screening for disease-causing genes and phenotype may help identify specific patients with left ventricular noncompaction and mortality-related cardiac phenotypes.

A novel risk score based on exercise capacity to predict all-cause mortality in adults with congenital heart disease

Abstract Background Impaired exercise capacity in adults with congenital heart disease is associated with mortality. Thus, exercise capacity is a potential tool for predicting risk in this population. The present study attempts to further explore the usefulness of exercise capacity in risk assessment of all-cause mortality, together with a limited number of easily accessible clinical variables. Methods The national register of congenital heart disease was searched for adults (18-60 years of age) with at least one bicycle ergometer exercise test and follow up in the register. The exercise capacity was classified based on percent of predicted exercise capacity (EC%pred); normal (> 70%), moderately impaired (50-70%) or severely impaired (<50%). All patients were followed for 10 years or until death, if occurring earlier than 10 years after the exercise test. Data were analyzed using logistic regression modelling. A risk evaluation model was constructed based on percent of predicted exercise capacity, age, and complexity of the heart lesion. Finally, the model was converted into a 5-point (p) risk score used to predict 10-year mortality (EC%pred >70%=0p, 50-70=1p, <50%=2p, age <25=0p, 25-40=1p, 40-60=2p, simple lesion=0p, moderate/severe complexity of heart lesion=1p). Results 1171 patients (mean age at exercise test 30.5 years, 44% women) were included with 70 deaths occurring within 10 years. A score 0-1 corresponded to <1% 10-year all-cause mortality, 2p 5%, 3p 9%, 4p 21% and 5p 33% mortality risk (Table 1). The area under curve for the model was 0.75 (95% CI 0.69-0.81). Conclusion An easily performed risk assessment containing % of predicted exercise capacity, age and complexity of heart lesion performs well in detecting patients at both low and high risk of all-cause mortality within 10 years after an exercise test.

Persistent Levoatriocardinal Vein in Association with Complete Duplication of SVC and IVC

AbstractPersistent levoatriocardinal vein (LACV) is a rare pulmonary venous anomaly characterized by persistence of embryonic pulmonary to systemic communication. It is commonly associated with obstructive lesions of the left heart, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome and mitral atresia. Complete duplication of the superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) is rare, and occurs due to aberrations in the multistep development of the cardinal venous system. Coexistence of double SVC and IVC has been reported in the literature; however, their occurrence with persistent levoatriocardinal vein is hitherto unreported. The current case describes a rare coexistence of these complex pulmonary and systemic venous anomalies: persistent levoatriocardinal vein in a child with double SVC and IVC. The embryological development and possible aberrations leading to these anomalies are also detailed.

Ischemic Stroke in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: Cumulative Incidence and Associated Factors.

When more patients with congenital heart disease reach adult age, increased incidence of long-term complications, including ischemic stroke, are expected. The aim of this study was to analyze cumulative incidence of ischemic stroke, associated factors, and case fatality in adult congenital heart disease. The study is based on Swedish national registers on congenital heart disease and stroke. Patients with congenital heart disease were followed between 2001 and 2018 for first-ever ischemic stroke events (ischemic stroke due to patent foramen ovale excluded). Factors possibly associated with ischemic stroke were analyzed using Cox regression models. Out of 8914 adult patients with congenital heart disease, 108 suffered ischemic stroke over a mean period of 7.6±4.7 years. The mean age at ischemic stroke was 53.8 years, and the cumulative incidence was 0.15% at 1 year, 0.5% at 5 years, and 1.5% at 10 years. In multivariable analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04 [95% CI, 1.03-1.06]), diabetes (HR, 2.9 [95% CI, 1.3-6.4]), ejection fraction <50% (HR, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.1-3.4]), atrial septal defect (HR, 3.0 [95% CI, 1.03-8.5]), and aortic valve lesions (HR, 4.8 [95% CI, 1.6-14.1]) were associated with increased risk. Among those with ischemic stroke, approximately half were on antithrombotic treatment (anticoagulants or antiplatelets) before admission. Case fatality was 6.5%. The cumulative incidence of ischemic stroke was 1.5% after 10 years. In adult congenital heart disease, the type of heart lesion, diabetes, ejection fraction <50%, and age were important factors associated with ischemic stroke. Despite a relatively young age, mortality is a significant threat. At time of the ischemic stroke event, approximately half of the patients were on antithrombotic treatment.

Chronic mild to moderate mitral regurgitation will not have an impact on left atrial strain parameters in the pediatric population.

Left atrial strain (LAS) analysis represents a newer non-invasive, sensitive and specific technique for assessing left atrial (LA) function and early detection of its deformation and dysfunction. However, its applicability in mitral regurgitation (MR) in pediatric population remains unexplored, raising pertinent questions regarding its potential role in evaluating the severity and progression of the disease. To investigate the impact of chronic MR in children and adolescents on LA remodeling and function. The study included 100 participants. Patients with primary and secondary chronic MR lasting at least 5 years fit our inclusion criteria. The exclusion criteria from the study were: patients with functional mitral regurgitation due to primary cardiomyopathies, patients with artificial mitral valve, patients with MR who had previously undergone surgery due to obstructive lesions of the left heart (aortic stenosis, coarctation of the aorta), patients with significant atrial rhythm disorders (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter). The echocardiographic recordings were conducted by two different cardiologists. Outcome data was reported as mean and standard deviation (SD) or median and interquartile range (Q1-Q3). The study included 100 participants, of whom 50 had MR and the remaining 50 were without MR. The average age of all participants was 15.8 ± 1.2 years, with a gender distribution of 37 males and 63 females. There was a significant difference in the values of LA volume index (LAVI), which were higher in patients with MR (p= 0.0001), S/D ratio (and parameters S and D; p= 0.001, p= 0.0001, p= 0.013), mitral annulus radius (p= 0.0001), E/A ratio (p= 0.0001), as well as septal e' (m/s), lateral e' (m/s), and average E/e' ratio, along with the values of TV peak gradient and LV global longitudinal strain (%). There was no significant difference in LA strain parameters, nor in LA stiffness index (LASI). Our findings revealed significant differences in several echocardiographic parameters in pediatric patients with MR relative to those without MR, providing insight into the multifaceted cardiac structural and functional effects of MR in this vulnerable population.

Whole-exome sequencing uncovers the genetic complexity of bicuspid aortic valve in families with early-onset complications

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart lesion with an estimated population prevalence of 1%. We hypothesize that specific gene variants predispose to early-onset complications of BAV (EBAV). We analyzed whole-exome sequences (WESs) to identify rare coding variants that contribute to BAV disease in 215 EBAV-affected families. Predicted damaging variants in candidate genes with moderate or strong supportive evidence to cause developmental cardiac phenotypes were present in 107 EBAV-affected families (50% of total), including genes that cause BAV (9%) or heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD, 19%). After appropriate filtration, we also identified 129 variants in 54 candidate genes that are associated with autosomal-dominant congenital heart phenotypes, including recurrent deleterious variation of FBN2, MYH6, channelopathy genes, and type 1 and 5 collagen genes. These findings confirm our hypothesis that unique rare genetic variants drive early-onset presentations of BAV disease.

Double Intervention in A Patient with Large Patent Ductus Arteriosus and Moderate Upper Muscular Ventricular Septal Defect with Bidirectional Shunt with Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and Ventricular septal defect (VSD) are commonly encountered problems and constitute about 40% of all congenital heart lesions. The association of these two conditions in a single patient is not very uncommon. Both these conditions can be treated by placing intracardiac devices. Double interventional closure of PDA and VSD was performed in a gravely ill infant at her 3 months and 5 months of age respectively, who was suffering from recurrent pneumonia and heart failure since birth. These were lifesaving procedure for that patient which led to writing this report. Cardiovasc j 2024; 16(2): 105-109

Single Center Retrospective Evaluation of Coronary Artery Fistula Outcomes.

There is a paucity of literature describing long-term outcomes of patients with coronary artery fistula with most manuscripts focusing on those requiring interventions. We describe single-center outcomes of coronary artery fistulas including those not requiring intervention. We performed a retrospective review of the electronic medical record and identified all patients with a diagnosis of coronary artery fistula over the last 10years. 158 patients were identified with a coronary artery fistula. The mean age at diagnosis was 5.8years (SD ± 5.9). There was a male (55%, n = 87) predominance. Concomitant congenital heart lesion was present in 49% (n = 77) and a genetic anomaly was found in 18% (n = 29). No ischemic changes on electrocardiogram or ECG-stress test were observed. The mean follow-up was 5.0 (SD ± 3.8) years. Most patients (94%, n = 149) did not undergo an intervention. Of those 63% (n = 94) had at least one follow-up echocardiogram. There was spontaneous coronary artery fistula closure in 44% (n = 41), 8% (n = 8) decreased in size, and 48% (n = 45) were unchanged. No patient had enlargement of the coronary artery fistula over time. Additionally, tiny and small coronary artery fistulas showed no significant clinical changes in coronary artery dimensions, left ventricle dimensions and function over time. Seven patients required intervention; two patients underwent surgical ligation and five underwent catheter-based intervention. Most patients with coronary artery fistula in our cohort did not require intervention and over half either closed spontaneously or decreased in size with routine follow-up.

An unusual cause of cardiac arrest in a young infant

BackgroundAnomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery from the inappropriate sinus of Valsalva (AAOCA) is a rare congenital heart lesion. It is uncommon for patients with AAOCA to present with severe symptoms at a very young age.Case presentationWe describe a very rare but critical presentation in a young infant with AAOCA that requires surgical repair and pacemaker placement. A three-month-old infant was referred because of syncope. Cardiac arrest occurred shortly after admission. The electrocardiogram indicated a complete atrioventricular block and a transvenous temporary pacemaker was implanted. A further coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) showed the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva. Coronary artery unroofing was performed due to an interarterial course with the intramural component, and a permanent epicardial pacemaker was implanted. The postoperative recovery was uneventful, and this patient was thriving and asymptomatic at the nine-month follow-up. However, the electrocardiogram still indicated a complete pacing rhythm.ConclusionsBy timely diagnosis and treatment, this patient is successfully rescued. Although rare, AAOCA may be fatal even in infants.

Effect of obstructive sleep apnea on the severity of acute coronary syndrome

Objective: To investigate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on myocardial damage, coronary multi-vessel lesion and postoperative indexes in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS). Methods: The patients, admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from September 2022 to October 2023 due to chest tightness and pain, diagnosed with ACS and accompanied by emergency/elective percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)at, were prospectively enrolled. Portable sleep monitor was used to monitor after stabilization of condition(postoperative day 2±1). The patients were divided into the OSA group (AHI≥15/h) and the control group (AHI<15/h) according to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The hematologic indices, echocardiographic parameters, coronary vascular scores and postoperative indicators between the groups were compared. Binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for muti-vessel lesion in patients with ACS. Results: One hundred and four ACS patients who met the inclusion criteria were ultimately included, including 85 males (81.7%) and 19 females (18.3%), aged (57.3±10.8) years, of whom 48.1% (50/104) were complicated with OSA. Body mass index (BMI), prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, triglyceride (TG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and D-dimer in the OSA group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in sleep parameters between the two groups (P<0.05). The patients in the OSA group exhibited higher troponin T (cTnT) [M(Q1,Q3),54.0 (9.3,343.8) ng/L vs 15.0 (7.8,38.8) ng/L, P<0.05], larger left atrial internal diameters [41.4 (39.3,45.2) mm vs 40.2 (37.1,42.0) mm, P<0.05], more diseased vessels [2 (1, 3) vs 1 (1, 2), P<0.001], a higher percentage of muti-vessel lesion[60.0%(30/50)vs 29.6%(16/54),P<0.05], and a higher incidence of cardiovascular complications during hospitalization[10.0%(5/50)vs 0(0/54), P=0.017]. The results of binary logistic regression analysis suggested that after adjusting for confounders, AHI (OR=1.035, 95%CI: 1.008-1.063, P=0.011) was independently associated with the development of muti-vessel lesion in patients with ACS. Conclusions: ACS patients with OSA suffer more severe myocardial damage, are more likely to develop structural abnormalities of left heart and multi-vessel lesion, and have a higher incidence of postoperative complications. High AHI is a risk factor for multi-vessel lesion in ACS patients.

Comparison of Age-Related Decline and Behavioral Validity in C57BL/6 and CB6F1 Mice.

Variability in physical resilience to aging prompts a comprehensive examination of underlying mechanisms across organs and individuals. We conducted a detailed exploration of behavioral and physiological differences between C57BL/6 and CB6F1 mice across various age groups. In behavioral assays, B6 mice displayed superior performance in rotarod tasks but higher anxiety while CB6F1 mice exhibited a decline in short-term memory with age. Grip strength, long-term memory, and voluntary wheel running declined similarly with age in both strains. Examining physiological phenotypes, B6 mice exhibited lower body fat percentages across ages compared to CB6F1 mice, though cataract severity worsened with age in both strains. Analysis of cardiac functions revealed differences between strains, with worsening left ventricular hypertrophy and structural heart abnormalities with age in CB6F1 mice along with higher blood pressure than B6. Lesion scores showed an age-related increase in heart, kidney, and liver lesions in both strains, while lung lesions worsened with age only in CB6F1 mice. This study underscores the validity of behavioral assays and geropathology assessment in reflecting age-related decline and emphasizes the importance of considering strain specificity when using mouse models to study human aging.

#189 Aortic stenosis is an independent risk factor for mortality in end-stage kidney disease patients on the transplant waitlist

Abstract Background and Aims Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. However, the impact of individual valvular heart lesions on outcomes in patients on the kidney transplant waitlist is unclear. This study aims to analyse the relationship between different VHD and all-cause mortality, and to determine the characteristics of patients on the transplant waitlist stratified by the different types of VHD. Method This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of ESKD patients who were referred for kidney transplant waitlist placement from May 2008 to February 2021 and had undergone baseline transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). Significant VHD was defined as VHD of at least moderate severity based on TTE findings. Patients were followed up until death or kidney transplantation. Results Of the 512 patients included, 89 (17.4%) had significant VHD. Mean follow-up duration was 6.6 ± 3.3 years. Significant VHD included 46 (9.0%) tricuspid regurgitation (TR), 44 (8.6%) mitral regurgitation (MR), 11 (2.2%) aortic regurgitation (AR), 7 (1.4%) aortic stenosis (AS) and 2 (0.4%) mitral stenosis (MS). Of the different VHD (Table 1), only AS was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 2.41, 95% CI 1.53-3.78, p &amp;lt; 0.0001, Fig. 1) and remained significant after adjusting for age, diabetes mellitus (DM) and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (adjusted HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.07-2.73, p = 0.02). Risk factors associated with AS included older age (odds ratio (OR) 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.23, p = 0.01), history of CVD (OR 7.31, 95% CI 1.59-33.6, p = 0.01), longer dialysis vintage (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02, p = 0.02), previous parathyroidectomy (OR 15.1, 95% CI 2.68-85.4, p = 0.002) and higher corrected calcium (OR 43.9, 95% CI 1.56-1240, p = 0.03). Age (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.24, p = 0.02), history of CVD (aOR 7.70, 95% CI 1.50-39.5, p = 0.02) and previous parathyroidectomy (aOR 11.8, 95% CI 1.83-76.7, p = 0.01) remained significant in the multivariable model. No specific risk factors were identified for the other valvular lesions. Conclusion AS appears to be an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in ESKD patients on the transplant waitlist. Differences in mortality and risk factors associated with different types of VHD may suggest differing underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Association between heart measurements and the prevalence of heart lesions at necropsy in feedlot cattle

Heart disease is an animal health and economic concern to feedlot cattle producers. The objective was to determine as­sociations between heart measurements and heart lesions in feedlot cattle at necropsy. We hypothesize that heart measure­ments will differ between cattle with heart lesions present dur­ing gross necropsy vs. those without.

Pulmonary artery banding: a 20-year experience at a tertiary care center in a developing country.

Pulmonary artery banding serves as an important palliative procedure used for the management of several congenital heart lesions. This study aims to describe a 20-year experience of pulmonary artery banding at a tertiary care center in a developing country. This is a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent pulmonary artery banding over a 20-year period between January 2000 and July 2020 in a tertiary care center in a developing country. Data regarding demographics, indications, diagnosis, echocardiographic findings, postoperative complications, hospital stay, and outcomes were recorded. A total of 143 patients underwent pulmonary artery banding between 2000 and 2020, with a decrease from approximately 15 surgeries per year in 2012 to 1-2 surgeries a year in 2020. At the time of banding, the median age of patients was approximately 90 days [interquartile range, IQR, 30-150 days]. Four patients (2.8%) died during the band placement. No significant association was observed between baseline characteristics or type of heart defect at presentation and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary artery banding remains useful in a subset of congenital heart lesions and as a surgical palliation, with relatively low mortality, allowing postponement of total correction to a higher weight. This technique continues to be valuable in developing countries or for heart surgical programs with limited resources.