El‐Harasis, Majd

Introduction: One million patients around the world have had total hip arthorplasty with 35% of them having metal-on-metal implants. Although there have been some case reports of cobalt cardiotoxicity from arthroprosthetic cobaltism resulting in dilated cardiomyopathy, incidence of cardiomyopathy and mortality in these patients is unknown. Objective: We therefore sought to determine the incidence of new onset cardiomyopathy (EF <40%) and associated mortality, in patients with metal hip arthroplasty. Methods: We retrospectively examined the records of the patients form our institutional total hip arthroplasty registry (Metal on Metal: MoM, Metal on Polyethylene: MoP, Ceramic on Ceramic: CoC and Ceramic on Polyethylne: CoP). Among 122 patients with baseline and follow up echocardiograms, cobalt and chromium levels were available in 12 patients, none of which developed incident cardiomyopathy. Results: The mean age of the population with metal group (MoM and MoP) was 53 years, predominantly males. During the follow up period of 10 years, the cumulative incidence (KM curve probabilities) of low EF <=40% in our study population was 14% in metal group as compared to 5% in non-metal group (CoC and CoP), (p value 0.51). At 15 years of follow up, among 122 patients, there were16 deaths in the metal group (81) and only 2 deaths in the non-metal group (41) (p value 0.15). Conclusions: In conclusion, although the incidence of cardiomyopathy as well as mortality is low in patients with metal hip arthroplasty and not significantly, further studies maybe needed to assess its effect on diastolic dysfunction.

Background: Worldwide, approximately one million patients have had total hip arthroplasty with 35% being cobalt and chromium Metal-on-Metal (MoM) or Metal-on-Polythelene (MoP) implants. Animal models have suggested that cobalt and chromium can affect all chambers, but there seems to be an atrial predilection. There are several case reports of metal containing hip arthroplasty causing atrial arrhythmias but the true incidence of atrial fibrillation associated with metal hip arthroplasty remains undefined. Objective: We sought to determine the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with metal containing hip arthroplasty. We also examined the association between serum cobalt and chromium levels and arrhythmias in this cohort and all cause mortality. Methods: We retrospectively examined the records of patients from the Mayo Clinic total hip arthroplasty registry (Metal group - Metal-on-Metal: MoM and Metal-on-Polyethylene: MoP, Non-Metal group - Ceramic-on-Ceramic: CoC and Ceramic-on-Polyethylne: CoP) to obtain demographic data, comorbidities, laboratory, ECG, and echocardiographic data. Out of a total of 1756 patients, Cobalt and Chromium levels were available in 138 patients. Results: The mean age of patients with metal containing hip replacement was 50 years and were predominantly male. During a follow up period of 10 years, the incidence of atrial fibrillation in our study population was 8% in metal group compared to 2% (p=0.11) in non-metal group. There was no association between cobalt or chromium levels with the incidence of atrial fibrillation. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in metal group versus non-metal group (p=0.005). Conclusion: The incidence of atrial fibrillation was relatively more in patients with metal versus non-metal hip arthroplasty but there was no association of serum cobalt or chromium levels with incidence of atrial fibrillation in the subset of patients. In addition, all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the metal group suggesting potential toxic effects of metal containing hip arthroplasty.

Background The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of pregnancy‐related adverse outcomes ( PRAO ) between patients with versus without hemodynamically significant right ventricle outflow tract ( RVOT) . Methods and Results This was a retrospective cohort study of all pregnant patients with isolated RVOT lesions undergoing evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, 1990 to 2017. Hemodynamic significance was defined as ≥moderate pulmonary/conduit stenosis (≥3 m/s) and/or ≥moderate regurgitation. Patients with concomitant significant left heart disease were excluded. PRAO was defined as cardiovascular, obstetric, and/or neonatal complications occurring during the pregnancy through 6 weeks postpartum. A total of 224 pregnancies in 114 patients with RVOT lesions were identified; 38 pregnancies occurred in 24 patients with hemodynamically significant RVOT . Forty‐eight (21%) pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortion. Of the 173 completed pregnancies, median gestational age at delivery was 38 (35–40) weeks and median birth weight 2965 (2065–4122) g. Seven pregnancies (4%) were complicated by cardiovascular events, 14 (8%) by obstetric complications, with adverse neonatal outcomes occurring in 38 (22%). There were no maternal deaths. The incidence of spontaneous abortion and PRAO were similar in both the RVOT and hemodynamically significant RVOT groups. As an isolated condition, Tetralogy of Fallot–pulmonary atresia was associated with spontaneous abortion and neonatal complications. Conclusions The risk of cardiovascular complications was low in patients with isolated RVOT lesions, and hemodynamically significant RVOT lesions were not associated with either cardiovascular complications or PRAO . Further studies are required to explore the factors responsible for PRAO in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot–pulmonary atresia.

AbstractBackgroundImplantable loop recorders (ILRs) are effective in achieving symptom‐rhythm correlation. However, diagnostic yield in routine clinical practice is not well established.MethodsPatients undergoing ILR implantation between April 2010 and May 2015 were included. All devices were enrolled in remote monitoring with automatic arrhythmia detection and P sense algorithms switched “ON.” Symptom‐rhythm correlation was assessed and changes in management were recorded.ResultsA total of 312 patients (57% male, age 53 ± 22 years; median CHADS2VaSc score = 1) were included in this study. ILRs were implanted for evaluation of syncope in 206 (66.0%), presyncope in 23 (7.4%), unexplained palpitations in 51 (16.3%), and cryptogenic stroke in 27 (8.7%) patients. ILR monitoring yielded a diagnosis that changed management strategy in 146 (46.8%) patients over a median of 12 (1‐42) months. Out of 163 (52.2%) patients with symptoms during the monitoring period, 100 (61.3%) had an arrhythmia. ILR was useful in ruling out an arrhythmic cause for symptoms in 63 (38.7%) patients. ILR results led to pacemaker implantation in 23 patients (7.4% overall and 11.2% of those with syncope) after median follow‐up of 3 months. A new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation was made in 38 (12.2%) patients, 11 of whom were initiated on oral anticoagulants. ILR results led to pacemaker implantation in 31 patients (9.9% overall and 19.0% of those with syncope) after median follow‐up of 3 months. A new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation was made in 38 (12.2%) patients, nine of whom were initiated on oral anticoagulants. Overall, ILR led to a change in management in 47% patients with a number needed to implant of 2.1 to change management.ConclusionILR monitoring is effective in achieving symptom‐rhythm correlation and results in changes in management in nearly half of implanted patients. Additional studies are needed to evaluate cost efficacy of ILR and the optimal monitoring duration.

Background: Right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVD) often coexists with various cardiopulmonary diseases. However, the association between RVD and risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) has not been well studied. This study examined the risk of SCD associated with RVD in patients with heterogeneous underlying cardiac diseases. Methods: The Mayo Clinic cardiac care unit database included 5463 consecutive patients with complete echocardiographic evaluation to assess right ventricular systolic function and RVD severity. Prospective surveillance follow-up was obtained for all patients. SCD was adjudicated when a malignant ventricular arrhythmia was documented as the primary rhythm leading to death. RESULTS: The prevalence of mild RVD and moderate-severe RVD was 14.9% and 17.1%, respectively. Patients with RVD were more likely to have a history of congestive heart failure, cardiac arrest, pulmonary disease, and lower baseline left ventricular ejection fraction compared with those with normal right ventricular systolic function. During a median follow-up of 14 months, the incidence of SCD was highest in patients with moderate-severe RVD (7.4% versus 4.4% in mild RVD versus 1.6% in normal right ventricular function; P <0.001). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, mild RVD (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.57; P =0.046) and moderate-severe RVD (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.91; P =0.006) were independently associated with an increased risk of SCD. Moderate-severe RVD remained an independent predictor of SCD for patients with left ventricular ejection fraction >35% without or with preexisting implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.12; P =0.003 and adjusted hazard ratio, 5.04; P <0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Presence of RVD in patients with a history of preexisting cardiac disease is an independent predictor of SCD irrespective of left ventricular ejection fraction.