Citations

Background: The Food and Drug Administration approved left atrial appendage occlusion with the Watchman device for patients who are at increased stroke risk and are suitable for oral anticoagulation but who have an appropriate reason to seek a nondrug alternative. These broad criteria raise the question of their interpretation in clinical practice. There is a lack of studies comprehensively evaluating the indications for Watchman implantation among a large series of patients from contemporary, real-world practice in the United States. Methods: We used the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Registry to identify Watchman procedures performed between 2016 and 2018. We assessed procedural indications for Watchman implantation in the United States and evaluated the association between procedural indications and in-hospital adverse events. Results: A total of 38 314 procedures were included. The mean patient age was 76.1±8.1 years, and 58.9% were men. The mean CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was 4.8±1.5, whereas the mean hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol (HAS-BLED) score was 3.0±1.1. Prior stroke or transient ischemic attack was reported in 40.2% and prior bleeding in 70.1%, with gastrointestinal bleeding being most common (41.9%). The most common site-reported procedural indications for Watchman implantation were increased thromboembolic risk (64.8%) and history of major bleed (64.3%), followed by high fall risk (35.5%). Most (71.9%) had ≥2 procedural indications. Patients with high fall risk had increased risk of in-hospital adverse events (adjusted OR, 1.12; P =0.025), but no other differences were found in the risk of in-hospital adverse events by procedural indication. Conclusions: Among patients in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Registry, the most common procedural indications for Watchman implantation were increased thromboembolic risk, history of major bleed, and high fall risk. A majority of patients had multiple procedural indications. High fall risk conferred a modestly increased risk of in-hospital adverse events.

Elizabethkingia species are Gram-negative bacilli that were most recently linked to a cluster of infections in the Midwestern United States from 2016 to 2017. Inappropriate empirical and directed antibiotic selection for this organism is common among providers and is an independent risk factor for mortality.

Introduction: CRT optimizations has the potential to improve the 30% non-response rate. Randomized trials (RCTs) comparing device and echo-guided CRT optimization have been overall small and results have been conflicting. Methods: We searched the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases from January 2008 through September 2020 for RCTs and prospective observational studies that randomized patients to either echo-guided or device-based CRT optimization. Included studies had to report on at least one of the following outcomes of interest: all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization (HFH), NYHA class improvement, mean EF at follow up, LVEDD, 6MWD, and QoL. A meta-analyses on the outcomes of interest was performed using random effects models. Results: We included seven RCTs representing a total of 2,730 patients. Of those, 1,113 patients were randomized to echo-guided optimization, and 1,617 were randomized to device-based optimization. The mean age of patients was 64.5 years, and they were predominantly men (60%). In the device-based optimization group, there was 93 deaths (5.7%) and 142 HFH (5.1%). In the echo-guided optimization group, there was 57 deaths (10.2%) and 112 HFH (12.4%). On random effects meta-analysis, the device-based optimization group had a lower rate of HFH compared with the echo-guided optimization group (OR 0.81, 95% CL 0.70-0.95, Figure). However, differences in the following outcomes between the two groups were not statistically significant: all-cause mortality, mean follow up EF, LVEDD, NYHA class improvement, 6MWD improvement range or QoL. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that echo-guided optimization of CRT is equivalent to device-based optimization in relation to the clinical outcomes of death, EF, LVEDD, NYHA and 6MWD but suggests that device-related optimization could reduce HFH. The latter merits further investigation in relation to different device-base optimization algorithms.

AbstractObjectiveSummarize the current evidence on efficacy and tolerability of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), responsive neurostimulation (RNS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS) through a systematic review and meta‐analysis.MethodsWe followed the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses reporting standards and searched Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and their corresponding open‐label extension studies, as well as prospective case series, with ≥20 participants (excluding studies limited to children). Our primary outcome was the mean (or median, when unavailable) percentage decrease in frequency, as compared to baseline, of all epileptic seizures at last follow‐up. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of treatment responders and proportion with seizure freedom.ResultsWe identified 30 eligible studies, six of which were RCTs. At long‐term follow‐up (mean 1.3 years), five observational studies for VNS reported a pooled mean percentage decrease in seizure frequency of 34.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: −5.1, 74.5). In the open‐label extension studies for RNS, the median seizure reduction was 53%, 66%, and 75% at 2, 5, and 9 years of follow‐up, respectively. For DBS, the median reduction was 56%, 65%, and 75% at 2, 5, and 7 years, respectively. The proportion of individuals with seizure freedom at last follow‐up increased significantly over time for DBS and RNS, whereas a positive trend was observed for VNS. Quality of life was improved in all modalities. The most common complications included hoarseness, and cough and throat pain for VNS and implant site pain, headache, and dysesthesia for DBS and RNS.SignificanceNeurostimulation modalities are an effective treatment option for drug‐resistant epilepsy, with improving outcomes over time and few major complications. Seizure‐reduction rates among the three therapies were similar during the initial blinded phase. Recent long‐term follow‐up studies are encouraging for RNS and DBS but are lacking for VNS.

Endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Enterococcus gallinarum, an organism with intrinsic resistance to vancomycin, has rarely been reported. We present a case of persistent E. gallinarum bacteremia in a female recipient of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) complicated by endophthalmitis and meningoventriculitis, resulting in a fatal outcome despite treatment with intravenous ampicillin and daptomycin. Treatment of endophthalmitis often presents a challenge due to the lack of options for antimicrobials with reliable ocular penetration. Therapeutic decisions can become particularly complex with the involvement of drug-resistant pathogens and host characteristics that limit the choice of antimicrobials due to drug toxicity. This case illustrates a rare manifestation of an opportunistic pathogen.

AbstractMycobacterium is a large, clinically relevant bacterial genus made up of the agents of tuberculosis and leprosy and hundreds of species of saprophytic nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Pathogenicity, clinical presentation, epidemiology, and antimicrobial susceptibilities are exceptionally diverse between species. Patients with end-stage lung disease and recipients of lung transplants are at a higher risk of developing NTM colonization and disease and of severe manifestations and outcomes of tuberculosis. Data from the past three decades have increased our knowledge of these infections in lung transplant recipients. Still, there are knowledge gaps to be addressed to further our understanding of risk factors and optimal treatments for mycobacterial infections in this population.

AbstractDisseminated blastomycosis in solid organ transplant is uncommon. The diagnosis is usually challenging due to vague clinical presentations, which could lead to a devastating outcome. We reported a unique case of disseminated blastomycosis with laryngeal involvement in a kidney transplant recipient who presented with hoarseness. The diagnosis was made by histopathology and culture of laryngeal mass.