Echocardiography for hemodynamic assessment of patients with advanced heart failure and potential heart transplant recipients

Comprehensive non-invasive haemodynamic assessment in acute decompensated heart failure-related cardiogenic shock: a step towards echodynamics

AIMS

Haemodynamic assessment can be determinant in phenotyping cardiogenic shock (CS) and guiding patient management. Aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between echocardiographic and invasive assessment of haemodynamics in acute decompensated heart failure-related CS (ADHF-CS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

All consecutive ADHF-CS patients (SCAI shock stage ≥B) undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC) between 2020 and 2022 were prospectively enrolled. Patients underwent echocardiography 30 min before RHC. The evaluated haemodynamic parameters and their echocardiographic estimates ('e') comprised cardiac index (CI), wedge pressure (WP), pulmonary artery pressures (PAP), cardiac power output (CPO) and pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi). Hundred and one ADHF-CS patients (56 ± 11 years, 64% SCAI shock stage C, left ventricular ejection fraction 29 ± 5%) were included. Good correlation was found for CI, systolic PAP, RAP, and CPO (Pearson r > 0.8 for all), moderate correlation for ePAPi (r = 0.67) and PVR (r = 0.51), while estimation of WP was weak. The sensitivity and specificity of eCI to identify low output state (CI ≤2.2 L/min/m2) were 0.97 and 0.73, respectively, those of eWP for elevated filling pressures (WP >15 mmHg) were 0.84 and 0.55, those of ePAPs for PAPs ≥35 mmHg were 0.87 and 0.63, those of eCPO for CPO <0.6 W were 0.76 and 0.85, those of ePAPi for PAPi <1.85 were 0.89 and 0.92. Echocardiographic phenotyping of CS showed a good agreement with invasive classification (K value 0.457, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Echocardiographic estimation of haemodynamics and subsequent phenotypization of CS is feasible with good agreement with invasive evaluation.

New perspectives in the echocardiographic hemodynamics multiparametric assessment of patients with heart failure

International Guidelines consider left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) as an important parameter to categorize patients with heart failure (HF) and to define recommended treatments in clinical practice. However, LVEF has some technical and clinical limitations, being derived from geometric assumptions and is unable to evaluate intrinsic myocardial function and LV filling pressure (LVFP). Moreover, it has been shown to fail to predict clinical outcome in patients with end-stage HF. The analysis of LV antegrade flow derived from pulsed-wave Doppler (stroke volume index, stroke distance, cardiac output, and cardiac index) and non-invasive evaluation of LVFP have demonstrated some advantages and prognostic implications in HF patients. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is able to unmask intrinsic myocardial systolic dysfunction in HF patients, particularly in those with LV preserved EF, hence allowing analysis of LV, right ventricular and left atrial (LA) intrinsic myocardial function (global peak atrial LS, (PALS)). Global PALS has been proven a reliable index of LVFP which could fill the gaps "gray zone" in the previous Guidelines algorithm for the assessment of LV diastolic dysfunction and LVFP, being added to the latest European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging Consensus document for the use of multimodality imaging in evaluating HFpEF. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of the hemodynamics multiparametric approach of assessing myocardial function (from LVFP to stroke volume) in patients with HF, thus overcoming the limitations of LVEF.

Echocardiographic derived pulmonary artery wedge pressure is associated with mortality, heart hospitalizations, and functional capacity in chronic systolic heart failure: insights from the HF-ACTION trial

BACKGROUND

Heart Failure (HF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Identification of patients at risk for adverse events could lead to improved outcomes. Few studies address the association of echocardiographic-derived PAWP with exercise capacity, readmissions, and mortality in HF.

METHODS

HF-ACTION enrolled 2331 outpatients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who were randomized to aerobic exercise training versus usual care. All patients underwent baseline echocardiography. Echocardiographic-derived PAWP (ePAWP) was assessed using the Nagueh formula. We evaluated the relationship between ePAWP to clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Among the 2331 patients in the HF-ACTION trial, 2125 patients consented and completed follow-up with available data. 807 of these patients had complete echocardiographic data that allowed the calculation of ePAWP. Of this cohort, mean age (SD) was 58 years (12.7), and 255 (31.6%) were female. The median ePAWP was 14.06 mmHg. ePAWP was significantly associated with cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, coefficient 0.016, CI 1.002-1.030, p = 0.022) and all-cause death or HF hospitalization (HR 1.01, coefficient 0.010, CI 1.001-1.020, p = 0.04). Increased ePAWP was also associated with decreased exercise capacity leading to lower peak VO2 (p =  < 0.001), high Ve/VCO2 slope (p =  < 0.001), lower exercise duration (p =  < 0.001), oxygen uptake efficiency (p =  < 0.001), and shorter 6-MWT distance (p =  < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among HFrEF patients, echocardiographic-derived PAWP was associated with increased mortality, reduced functional capacity and heart failure hospitalization. ePAWP may be a viable noninvasive marker to risk stratify HFrEF patients.

Hemodynamic Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of permanent His bundle and biventricular pacing after AV nodal ablation

placing after atrioventricular (AV) nodal ablation for permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) may include cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with either His bundle pacing (HBP) or biventricular pacing (BVP), or conventional single site right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP). To determine the relationship between pacing method and hemodynamic outcome, we used Doppler echocardiographic methods to evaluate left ventricular (LV) hemodynamics after AV nodal ablation and either HBP, BVP, or RVAP.

Method

20 patients were evaluated > 6 months after AV nodal ablation, 10 each with chronic HBP or BVP, and all with RVAP lead. Doppler echocardiography was used to measure 3 parameters indicative of CRT: 1) LV dP/dt, 2) the LV pre-ejection interval, and 3) myocardial performance index, relative to intra-patient RVAP.

Results

Primary endpoint of LV dP/dt on average improved by > 17% with both HBP and BVP, compared to RVAP. HBP but not BVP, had improvement across all three parameters.

Conclusion

HBP provides LV electromechanical synchrony across multiple echo Doppler parameters. Both HBP and BVP were hemodynamically superior to RVAP following AV nodal ablation.

Echocardiography-Based Hemodynamic Monitoring Use on Inpatients Listed for Heart Transplantation Under 2018 Allocation Policy in United States

BACKGROUND

One notable change to the 2018 United Network for Organ Sharing listing criteria was to allow for the use of noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring for inpatients listed as status 3 for heart transplantation. We wanted to explore the feasibility of performing daily focused echocardiograms in place of invasive monitoring in this population.

METHODS

On retrospective chart review of inpatients listed for transplantation at our institution, 8 patients in the invasive monitoring group listed as status 1A (October 2016 to October 2018) and 9 patients in the echocardiographic group listed as status 3 (October 2018 to February 2020) were identified.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the 2 cohorts in the average measured/estimated right atrial, pulmonary artery systolic, and wedge pressures, although the echo cohort had lower cardiac index (P = .001). There were 2 patients with positive blood cultures treated with Swan exchange in Swan cohort and a total of 14 Swan exchanges. There were no infections in the noninvasive group.

CONCLUSION

We present our experience with the use of noninvasive daily hemodynamic assessment using focused echocardiograms to manage patients undergoing heart transplantation listing as status 3 under the new United Network for Organ Sharing allocation system. This approach appears safe and feasible; however, it requires validation in larger cohorts.

Indirect ultrasound evaluation of left ventricular outflow tract diameter implications for heart failure and aortic stenosis severity assessment

BACKGROUND

Whereas dependency of left ventricular outflow tract diameter (LVOTD) from body surface area (BSA) has been established and a BSA-based LVOTD formula has been derived, the relationship between LVOTD and aortic root and LV dimensions has never been explored. This may have implications for evaluation of LV output in heart failure (HF) and aortic stenosis (AS) severity.

METHODS

A cohort of 540 HF patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography was divided in a derivation and validation subgroup. In the derivation subgroup (N = 340), independent determinants of LVOTD were analyzed to derive a regression equation, which was used for predicting LVOTD in the validation subgroup (N = 200) and compared with the BSA-derived formula.

RESULTS

LVOTD determinants in the derivation subgroup were sinuses of Valsalva diameter (SVD, beta = 0.392, P < .001), BSA (beta = 0.229, P < .001), LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD, beta = 0.145, P = .001), and height (beta = 0.125, P = .037). The regression equation for predicting LVOTD with the aforementioned variables (LVOTD = 6.209 + [0.201 × SVD] + [1.802 × BSA] + [0.03 × LVEDD] + [0.025 × Height]) did not differ from (P = .937) and was highly correlated with measured LVOTD (R = 0.739, P < .001) in the validation group. Repeated analysis with LV end-diastolic volume instead of LVEDD and/or accounting for gender showed similar results, whereas BSA-derived LVOTD values were different from measured LVOTD (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Aortic root and LV dimensions affect LVOTD independently from anthropometric data and are included in a new comprehensive equation for predicting LVOTD. This should improve evaluation of LV output in HF and severity of AS when direct LVOTD measurement is difficult or impossible.

From left ventricular ejection fraction to cardiac hemodynamics: role of echocardiography in evaluating patients with heart failure

In clinical practice heart failure (HF) patients are generally classified on the basis of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction. This approach, however, has important limitations. According to the definition of HF as a clinical syndrome that results from any impairment of LV filling or ejection of blood, a more articulated hemodynamic categorization of HF patients taking into account both LV forward flow and filling pressure would be desirable. However, the reliability of hemodynamic measures using echocardiographic techniques, which are the most used in current clinical practice for evaluation of HF patients, needs to be clarified. The aim of this article, therefore, is to verify whether echocardiography has acceptable feasibility, accuracy and reproducibility for the noninvasive evaluation of LV hemodynamics. This evaluation is necessary to progress to a hemodynamic characterization of HF patients that would ultimately overcome the HF classification based on ejection fraction.

Natriuretic Peptide and Clinical Evaluation in the Diagnosis of Heart Failure Hemodynamic Profile: Comparison with Tissue Doppler Echocardiography

Background

Physical examination and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been used to estimate hemodynamics and tailor therapy of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients. However, correlation between these parameters and left ventricular filling pressures is controversial.

Objective

This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of physical examination, chest radiography (CR) and BNP in estimating left atrial pressure (LAP) as assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiogram.

Methods

Patients admitted with ADHF were prospectively assessed. Diagnostic characteristics of physical signs of heart failure, CR and BNP in predicting elevation (> 15 mm Hg) of LAP, alone or combined, were calculated. Spearman test was used to analyze the correlation between non-normal distribution variables. The level of significance was 5%.

Results

Forty-three patients were included, with mean age of 69.9 ± 11.1years, left ventricular ejection fraction of 25 ± 8.0%, and BNP of 1057 ± 1024.21 pg/mL. Individually, all clinical, CR or BNP parameters had a poor performance in predicting LAP ≥ 15 mm Hg. A clinical score of congestion had the poorest performance [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) 0.53], followed by clinical score + CR (AUC 0.60), clinical score + CR + BNP > 400 pg/mL (AUC 0.62), and clinical score + CR + BNP > 1000 pg/mL (AUC 0.66).

Conclusion

Physical examination, CR and BNP had a poor performance in predicting a LAP ≥ 15 mm Hg. Using these parameters alone or in combination may lead to inaccurate estimation of hemodynamics.

Correlation between Pulmonary Artery Pressure Measured by Echocardiography and Right Heart Catheterization in Patients with Rheumatic Mitral Valve Stenosis (A Prospective Study)

INTRODUCTION

Right heart catheterization (RHC) remains the gold standard for hemodynamic assessment of the right heart and pulmonary artery. However, this is an invasive tool, and noninvasive alternatives such as transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) are preferable. Nonetheless, the correlation between measurements by TTE and RHC are debated. In this study, we prospectively examined the correlation between systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures (sPAP and mPAP) measured by RHC and TTE in patients with hemodynamically significant rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Three hundred patients with hemodynamically significant MS undergoing TTE who were scheduled to undergo RHC within 24 hours were analyzed. PAP measurements were taken for all patients by RHC (sPAP(RHC), mPAP(RHC)). Maximum velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) jet obtained by continuous-wave Doppler with adding right atrial (RA) pressure was used for measuring sPAP by TTE (sPAP(TRVmax)). Mean PAP was measured using either pulmonary artery acceleration time (mPAP(PAAT)) method or by adding RA pressure to velocity-time integral of TR jet (mPAP(TRVTI)).

RESULTS

A good correlation between sPAP(RHC) and sPAP(TRVmax) (r = 0.89, P < 0.001), between mPAP(RHC) and mPAP(PAAT) (r = 0.9, P < 0.001), and between mPAP(RHC) and mPAP(TRVTI) (r = 0.92, P < 0.001) was found. Sensitivity and specificity of sPAP(TRV) max in detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH) were 92.8% and 86.6% and of mPAP(PAAT) were 94.1% and 73.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The noninvasive assessment of sPAP and mPAP by TTE correlates well with invasive measurements and has an acceptable specificity and sensitivity in detecting PH in patients with hemodynamically significant MS.

Limitations and strengths of doppler/echo pulmonary artery systolic pressure-right heart catheterization correlations: a systematic literature review

AIMS

Because many recent studies have questioned the accuracy of Doppler echocardiography (D) in determining pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), we performed a detailed literature analysis attempting add clarity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Studies through 2011 comparing D and right heart catheterization (RHC) PASP, with at least 25 studied patients and reporting correlation coefficients (r) were identified. Patient demographics, study characteristics, the percent of patients studied for left or right heart pathologies, and study biases were determined. After adjusting for differing study sizes, each study's r value was used as a single datapoint and dichotomized above or below the entire cohort's mean values. From 32 studies 2604 D-RHC parings were reported. Their overall weighted r was 0.68 ± 0.19. Poorer correlations were found for right heart pathologies compared to left heart pathologies (r = 0.58 vs. 0.84, P < 0.001) and for normal PASP patients in a study compared to abnormal PASP patients (r = 0.55 vs. 0.82, P < 0.001). Studies with predominately right heart pathology had a significantly greater D-RHC time difference, fewer successful D determinations, a greater percentage of normal PASPs on RHC, and more between-method differences >10 mmHg. Metaregression analyses indicated that both right heart pathology predominance and a greater percent of normal PASPs on RHC remained associated with poorer correlations.

CONCLUSIONS

D PASP-RHC correlations were high and between-method differences less in patients with left heart pathology but were poorer for right heart diseases and studies with proportionately more normal PASPs on RHC for which further study is needed.

Effects of the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device as observed by serial echocardiography

BACKGROUND

The HeartMate II is the most frequently used left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in patients with end-stage heart failure. There is a paucity of data regarding its longitudinal cardiac effects, particularly that on diastole.

METHODS

This retrospective study was an evaluation of echocardiograms preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively in patients with a HeartMate II. Measurements included left ventricle (LV) dimensions, ejection fraction (EF), right ventricle (RV) size and function, parameters of diastolic function, and an analysis of mitral regurgitation (MR), tricuspid regurgitation (TR), aortic insufficiency (AI), and aortic valve thickening.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients were evaluated. LV dimensions decreased but EF, RV size, and RV function were unchanged. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and diastolic parameters including mitral inflow E/A, deceleration time (DT), pulmonary vein inflow, left atrial size, and overall diastolic grade improved. LV relaxation measured by tissue Doppler (e') was unchanged and the E/e' ratio was also unchanged. Regarding valve function, MR decreased, TR was unchanged, and the aortic valve became increasingly thickened with increased AI severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The HeartMate II unloads the LV as shown by decreased LV size, decreased MR, reduced RVSP, and improved patterns of mitral inflow. However, neither systolic function nor diastolic relaxation improves in this cohort. RV size and function also remain unchanged. The aortic valve shows increased thickening and AI likely from valve leaflet fusion. These results provide detailed functional and hemodynamic information regarding the longitudinal effects of the HeartMate II.

Review of ambulatory pulmonary artery catheterization in the management of advanced heart failure

The use of pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) has declined secondary to associated complications and lack of demonstrable efficacy in the inpatient setting. Few studies have been published on the use of PAC in nonacute heart failure (HF) patients. The purpose of this study was to review the use of PAC in guiding advanced therapy in nonacute ambulatory HF patients. A retrospective observational study assessing our group's practice pattern with regard to the use of PAC in 515 ambulatory HF patients, outcomes, and adverse events that resulted from its use was performed. A total of 159 ambulatory HF patients were referred for PAC; 7% underwent heart transplant, 6% had ventricular assist device (VAD) placement, 18% underwent inotropic therapy, and 48% had addition of therapy while 14% had subtraction of therapy. Adverse events occurred in 4% of ambulatory PAC. Patients who underwent heart transplant, VAD, or inotropic therapy had significantly elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, mean pulmonary artery pressures, and depressed cardiac index. Patients selected for inotropic therapy also had significantly elevated right atrial pressures and depressed ejection fractions. PAC use safely guided medical therapy in more than half of the nonacute ambulatory patients.

Differences in hemodynamic responses between intravenous carperitide and nicorandil in patients with acute heart failure syndromes

While recent guidelines for the treatment of acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) recommend pharmacotherapy with vasodilators in patients without excessively low blood pressure (BP), few reports have compared the relative efficiency of vasodilators on hemodynamics in AHFS patients. The present study aimed to assess the differences in hemodynamic responses between intravenous carperitide and nicorandil in patients with AHFS. Thirty-eight consecutive patients were assigned to receive 48-h continuous infusion of carperitide (n = 19; 0.0125-0.05 μg/kg/min) or nicorandil (n = 19; 0.05-0.2 mg/kg/h). Hemodynamic parameters were estimated at baseline, and 2, 24, and 48 h after drug administration using echocardiography. After 48 h of infusion, systolic BP was significantly more decreased in the carperitide group compared with that in the nicorandil group (22.1 ± 20.0 % vs 5.3 ± 10.4 %, P = 0.003). While both carperitide and nicorandil significantly improved hemodynamic parameters, improvement of estimated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was greater in the carperitide group (38.2 ± 14.5 % vs 26.5 ± 18.3 %, P = 0.036), and improvement of estimated cardiac output was superior in the nicorandil group (52.1 ± 33.5 % vs 11.4 ± 36.9 %, P = 0.001). Urine output for 48 h was greater in the carperitide group, but not to a statistically significant degree (4203 ± 1542 vs 3627 ± 1074 ml, P = 0.189). Carperitide and nicorandil were differentially effective in improving hemodynamics in AHFS patients. This knowledge may enable physicians in emergency wards to treat and manage patients with AHFS more effectively and safely.

Association of furosemide dose with clinical status, left ventricular dysfunction, natriuretic peptides, and outcome in clinically stable patients with chronic systolic heart failure

In chronic heart failure (HF), high daily doses of furosemide have been associated with increased mortality. The authors sought to evaluate the relationships between orally administered furosemide doses, clinical status, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP), and outcome in 400 outpatients with chronic HF and LV ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 45%. Clinical status, NT-proBNP levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were evaluated. Median follow-up duration was 32 months. The median values of daily-dose furosemide and of furosemide dose normalized to body surface area were 25 mg (12.5-62.5 mg) and 15 mg/m(2) (13-34 mg/m(2)), respectively. A total of 32% of patients had decompensated HF according to Framingham score and criteria for congestion. In clinically stable patients, a multivariable Cox model, which included clinical and echocardiographic parameters plus NT-proBNP, hemoglobin, and eGFR, showed that normalized furosemide dose (P=.017), anemia (P=.060), age (P=.080), and New York Heart Association class (P=.080) were predictors of all cause-mortality. In patients with decompensated HF, LV end-systolic volume index (P=.018), NT-proBNP (P=.060), and reduced eGFR (P=.070) were independently related to the outcome. Normalized furosemide dose was a major determinant of prognosis in patients with chronic HF but without ongoing signs and symptoms, and this suggests a possible negative interaction of this drug in clinically stable patients.

Can echocardiographic evaluation of cardiopulmonary hemodynamics decrease right heart catheterizations in end-stage heart failure patients awaiting transplantation?

Candidacy for heart transplantation is influenced by the severity of pulmonary hypertension. In this study, invasive hemodynamics from right-sided cardiac catheterization were compared with values obtained by validated equations from Doppler 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. This prospective study was conducted in 40 patients with end-stage heart failure evaluated for heart transplantation or ventricular assist device implantation. Transthoracic echocardiography and right-sided cardiac catheterization were performed within 4 hours. From continuous-wave Doppler of the tricuspid regurgitation jet, pulmonary artery systolic pressure was calculated as the peak gradient across the tricuspid valve plus right atrial pressure estimated from inferior vena cava filling. Mean pulmonary artery pressure was calculated as (0.61 × pulmonary artery systolic pressure) + 2. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was calculated as (tricuspid regurgitation velocity/right ventricular outflow tract time-velocity integral × 10) + 0.16. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was calculated as 1.91 + (1.24 × E/E'). Pearson's correlation and Bland-Altman analysis of mean differences between echocardiographic and right-sided cardiac catheterization measurements were statistically significant for all hemodynamic parameters (pulmonary artery systolic pressure: r = 0.82, p < 0.05, mean difference 3.1 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.2 to 6.3; mean pulmonary artery pressure: r = 0.80, p < 0.05, mean difference 2.5 mm Hg, 95% CI 0.3 to 4.6; PVR: r = 0.52, p < 0.05, mean difference 0.8 Wood units, 95% CI 0.3 to 1.4; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure: r = 0.65, p < 0.05, mean difference 2.2 mm Hg, 95% CI 0.1 to 4.3). Compared with right-sided cardiac catheterization, PVR by Doppler echocardiography identified all patients with PVR > 4 Wood units (n = 4), 73% of patients with PVR <2 Wood units (n = 8), and 52% of patients with PVR from 2 to 4 Wood units (n = 10). In conclusion, echocardiographic estimation of cardiopulmonary hemodynamics is reliable in patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy. The noninvasive assessment of hemodynamics by echocardiography may be able to decrease the number of serial right-sided cardiac catheterizations in selected patients awaiting heart transplantation. However, in patients with borderline PVR, right-sided cardiac catheterization is indicated to assess eligibility for transplantation.

Chronic Ambulatory Intracardiac Pressures and Future Heart Failure Events

Background—

Intracardiac pressures in heart failure (HF) have been measured in patients while supine in the hospital but change at home with posture and activity. The optimal level of chronic ambulatory pressure is unknown. This analysis compared chronic intracardiac pressures to later HF events and sought a threshold above which higher pressures conferred worse outcomes.

Methods and Results—

Median pressures were measured every 24 hours from continuous 8-minute segments for 6 months after implantation of hemodynamic monitors in 261 patients with New York Heart Association class III-IV HF in the Chronicle Offers Management to Patients with Advanced Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure Study. Baseline and chronic daily medians of estimated pulmonary artery diastolic, right ventricular systolic, and right ventricular end-diastolic pressures were compared with HF event rate. The group median for chronic 24-hour estimated pulmonary artery diastolic pressure was 28 mm Hg (excluding 7 days before and after events). Despite weight-guided management, events occurred in 100 of 261 (38%) patients. Event risk increased progressively with higher chronic 24-hour estimated pulmonary artery diastolic pressure, from 20% at 18 mm Hg to 34% at 25 mm Hg and 56% at 30 mm Hg, with similar relations for right ventricular pressures. Among patients with baseline day median estimated pulmonary artery diastolic pressures of ≥25 mm Hg, event risk was 1.10/6 mo when they remained chronically ≥25 mm Hg, but risk fell to 0.47 when 24-hour pressures declined to <25 mm Hg for more than half of the days.

Conclusions—

Despite current management, many patients with advanced HF live on a plateau of high filling pressures from which later events occur. This risk is progressively higher with higher chronic ambulatory pressures. It is not known whether more targeted intervention could maintain lower chronic ambulatory pressures and better outcomes.

Doppler Echocardiography in Advanced Systolic Heart Failure

Background—

Although several studies have demonstrated a good correlation between Doppler echocardiographic and invasive measurements of single hemodynamic variables, the accuracy of echocardiography in providing a comprehensive assessment in individual patients has not been validated. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and clinical applicability of Doppler echocardiography in determining the entire hemodynamic profile in stable patients with advanced systolic heart failure.

Methods and Results—

Doppler echocardiography and Swan-Ganz catheterization were simultaneously performed in 43 consecutive patients with advanced heart failure. Echocardiographic data required for estimation of right atrial, pulmonary artery systolic, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures; cardiac output; and pulmonary vascular resistance were obtained and compared with hemodynamic data. For all variables, invasive and noninvasive hemodynamic values were highly correlated ( P <0.0001), with very low bias and narrow 95%confidence limits. In 16 patients with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (>3 Wood U) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (>20 mm Hg) at baseline, hemodynamic and Doppler measurements were simultaneously repeated after unloading manipulations. Absolute values and changes of pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures after unloading were still accurately predicted ( r =0.96 and r =0.92, respectively).

Conclusions—

Doppler echocardiography may offer a valid alternative to invasive cardiac catheterization for the comprehensive hemodynamic assessment of patients with advanced heart failure, and it may assist in monitoring and optimization of therapy in potential heart transplant recipients.

Pulmonary hypertension in heart failure

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary hypertension occurs in 60% to 80% of patients with heart failure and is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Pulmonary artery pressure correlates with increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Therefore, pulmonary hypertension is a common feature of heart failure with preserved as well as reduced systolic function. Pulmonary hypertension is partially reversible with normalization of cardiac filling pressures. Pulmonary vasculature remodeling and vasoconstriction create a second component, which does not reverse immediately, but has been shown to improve with vasoactive drugs and especially with left ventricular assist devices.

CONCLUSION

Many drugs used for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension are being considered as treatment options for heart failure-related pulmonary hypertension. This is of particular significance in the heart transplant population. Randomized clinical trials with interventions targeting heart failure patients with elevated pulmonary artery pressure would be justified.

Serum procollagen type III is associated with elevated right-sided filling pressures in stable outpatients with congestive heart failure

Elevated filling pressures are associated with heart failure deterioration, but mechanisms underlying this association remain poorly understood. We sought to investigate whether or not elevated filling pressures are associated with increased collagen turnover, evaluated by procollagen type III aminoterminal peptide (PIIINP) levels, in stable systolic heart failure. Eighty patients with heart failure with severe systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 26 +/- 7%) were included. Patients underwent simultaneous echocardiogram with evaluation of haemodynamic parameters and blood sampling for PIIINP measurement. Mean PIIINP level was 6.11 +/- 2.62 microg l(-1). PIIINP was positively associated with estimated right atrial pressure (RAP) (r = 0.36; p = 0.001). Mean PIIINP values were 5.04 +/- 2.42 microg l(-1) in patients with estimated RAP < or = 5 mmHg, and 7.59 +/- 2.54 microg l(-1) in those with RAP > 15 mmHg (p < 0.01). In conclusion, elevated right-side filling pressures are associated with evidence of active extracellular matrix turnover, as indicated by elevated PIIINP levels, in stable systolic heart failure. Activation of extracellular matrix turnover may be implicated in the accelerated progression of heart failure syndromes seen in patients with persistent congestion.

Clinical findings, natriuretic peptides, and echocardiography: integrating tools to optimize heart failure management

The hemodynamic profile of heart failure (HF) patients may be critical to their clinical outcome, whereby congestion emerges as a particularly important aspect to define therapeutic goals, optimize HF treatment, and determine prognosis. Accordingly, individualized HF management must include several strategies to detect congestion, which might easily be underestimated in chronic HF patients. Therefore, it is important to recognize the true reliability of traditional HF signs and symptoms. The contemporary understanding of HF has brought new value to some aspects of physical examination. Natriuretic peptides have emerged as potential new tools in the diagnosis of congestion in patients with HF, and echocardiography has gained renewed importance in HF management when it is used to investigate hemodynamic profile. The aim of this article is to review and integrate these 3 ways of assessing and monitoring HF patients: clinical findings, natriuretic peptides, and echocardiography.

Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Left-Sided Heart Disease

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) denotes a poor prognosis in patients with left-sided heart disease. No study has demonstrated long-term benefit from PH drugs such as prostanoids, endothelin antagonists, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. In some cases, cautious use of PH drugs may be indicated. However, theoretic and practical concerns limit any formal recommendations.

Assessment of left ventricular function by cardiac ultrasound

Our understanding of the physical underpinnings of the assessment of cardiac function is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Recent developments in cardiac ultrasound permit exploitation of many of these newer physical concepts with current echocardiographic machines. This review will first focus on the current approach to the assessment of cardiovascular hemodynamics by cardiac ultrasound. The next focus will be the assessment of global cardiac mechanics in systole and diastole. Finally, relationships between the cardiac structure and regional myocardial function, and the way regional function can be quantified by ultrasound, will be presented. This review also discusses the clinical impact of echocardiography and its future directions and developments.

Two simple echo-Doppler measurements can accurately identify pulmonary hypertension in the large majority of patients with chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND

The assessment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with heart failure is of great clinical importance not only for diagnostic purposes but also for prognostication. The present study was undertaken on a consecutive basis with a group of patients with chronic heart failure. Patients were evaluated for their suitability for heart transplantation: (1) to explore the diagnostic accuracy of several echo Doppler parameters of pulmonary hemodynamics in predicting the presence of elevated pulmonary artery pressure (defined as pulmonary artery systolic pressure > or =35 mmHg and mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mmHg); (2) to assess the diagnostic ability of the same parameters to identify patients with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance; and (3) to evaluate the influence of right ventricular function and degree of tricuspid regurgitation in modifying diagnostic accuracy.

METHODS

Echo Doppler examination and right heart catheterization were performed consecutively within 24 hours in 86 patients. The optimal cut-off value for a series of echo Doppler parameters capable of identifying patients with pulmonary hypertension was obtained by dividing the entire sample into 2 groups; the optimal threshold (highest sensitivity and specificity) of the echo and Doppler parameters used to classify patients with and without pulmonary hypertension was determined in 67% of cases by means of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve: this was the testing sample. The proportion of cases classified correctly according to the selected cut-off was computed. The remaining 33% of cases represented the validation sample: sensitivity, specificity and predictive values (and their 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for identifying pulmonary hypertension were calculated from the proposed cut-offs in this second sample. Finally, the overall performance of the echo Doppler parameters was assessed over the whole sample by considering the extent of the area under the ROC curve (A-ROC) and its 95% CI, for the dichotomic measurement.

RESULTS

On right heart catheterization, a pulmonary artery systolic (PAPs) pressure > or =35 mmHg plus a mean pressure (mean PAP) >20 mmHg was documented in 49 of 86 cases (57%), for whom mean values were 56 +/- 17 and 38 +/- 11 mmHg, respectively. The proportion of cases identified correctly as having pulmonary hypertension was highest for PAPs (88%) and mean PAP (85%) in addition to acceleration time of pulmonary artery systolic flow (ACT) (79%) and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure obtained utilizing the early phase of the tricuspid regurgitation spectral flow (PAPd/TR) (75%). PAPd/TR performed better in the validating sample in terms of diagnostic ability, with high sensitivity and specificity (100% and 60%) and positive and negative predictive values (PPV 80%, NPV 100%). PAPs, mean PAP, ACT and PAPd/TR confirmed their prevailing diagnostic ability (A-ROC from 0.74 to 0.86) in identifying pulmonary hypertension with fair to high feasibility (67% to 91%) and an odds ratio (OR) indicative of strong association. ACT and PAPd/TR, the 2 parameters with the highest feasibility, allowed us to identify 46 of 49 (94%) hypertensive cases. The same parameters did not perform well in identifying patients with increased vascular resistance, with A-ROC ranging from 0.55 to 0.69. Heterogeneity of effect, due to right ventricular function or tricuspid regurgitation degree, could not be demonstrated in the ability of the echo Doppler measurements to identify pulmonary hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

ACT, PAPd/TR, PAPs and mean PAP have been shown to accurately classify patients with chronic heart failure with or without pulmonary hypertension. In particular, ACT and PAPd/TR alone allowed reliable and accurate definition of pulmonary hypertension in 94% of patients, regardless of right ventricular function or degree of tricuspid regurgitation. Non-invasive pulmonary pressure assessment by the referred method might be useful in the evaluation of heart transplant candidates.

Echo-Doppler and clinical evaluations to define hemodynamic profile in patients with chronic heart failure: accuracy and influence on therapeutic management

BACKGROUND

Correct classification of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients by dual evidence of congestion and adequate perfusion is the primary clinical focus for management.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the accuracy of echo-Doppler compared with clinical evaluation in determining the hemodynamic profile of patients with CHF; and to compare therapeutic changes based on hemodynamic or echo-Doppler findings.

METHODS

Three hundred and sixty-six consecutive CHF patients (ejection fraction 25+/-7%) in sinus rhythm, undergoing evaluation for cardiac transplantation, underwent physical examination prior to right heart catheterization and echo-Doppler studies. Subsequently, patients were randomized to therapeutic optimization using either right heart catheterization or echo-Doppler data. The end-points were: identification of low cardiac output (cardiac index <2.2 l/min/m(2)); high pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP >18 mm Hg); high right atrial pressure (RAP >5 mm Hg) and analysis of therapeutic changes made in response to the right heart catheterization and echo-Doppler studies.

RESULTS

Echo-Doppler showed better accuracy in estimating abnormal hemodynamic indices than clinical variables (cardiac index <2.2 l/min/m(2): echo positive predictive accuracy (PPA) 98% vs. clinical PPA 52% p<0.00001; PWP >18 mm Hg: echo PPA 85% vs. clinical PPA 76% p=0.0011; RAP >5 mm Hg: echo PPA 82% vs. clinical PPA 57% p<0.00001). When applied to individual patients, the echo-Doppler assessment was more accurate than clinical evaluation in defining the different hemodynamic profiles: wet/cold (89% vs. 13%, p<0.0001); wet/warm (73% vs. 30%, p<0.0001); dry/cold (68% vs. 12%, p<0.0001); dry/warm (88% vs. 51%, p<0.0001). Therapeutic decision-making based on echo-Doppler findings was similar to that based on hemodynamics.

CONCLUSION

Echo-Doppler hemodynamic monitoring proved accurate in estimating hemodynamic profiles and influenced therapeutic management.

Right ventricular dysfunction in chronic dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure

In patients with advanced heart failure, the main focus has traditionally been placed on the functional assessment of the left ventricle. Therefore, the current body of literature examining the right ventricle and its influence on the pathophysiological processes in heart failure has been limited. Methods currently employed to assess the size and function of the right ventricle include: high frequency thermodilution, contrast ventriculography, radionuclide ventriculography, echocardiography, and magnetic resonance imaging; however, none of these techniques has proven to be a 'gold standard' for the assessment of right ventricular function. Nevertheless, when these methods are employed, right ventricular dysfunction has been shown to be a powerful predictor of reduced exercise capacity and survival. This relationship holds true for patients with heart failure secondary to either ischemic or non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Preload-adjusted right ventricular maximal power: concept and validation

Right ventricular (RV) maximal power (PWRmx) is dependent on preload. The objective of this study was to test our hypothesis that the PWRmx versus end-diastolic volume (EDV) relationship, analogous to the load-independent stroke work (SW) versus EDV relationship (preload-recruitable SW, PRSW), is linear, with the PWR x-axis intercept (V0PWR) corresponding to the PRSW intercept (V0SW). If our hypothesis is correct, the preload sensitivity of PWRmx could be eliminated by adjusting for EDV and V0PWR. Ten dogs were instrumented with a pulmonary flow probe, micromanometers, and RV conductance catheter. Data were obtained during bicaval occlusions under various conditions and fitted to PWRmx = a·(EDV − V0PWR)β, where a is the slope of the relationship. The PWRmx versus EDV relationship did not deviate from linearity (β = 1.09, P = not significant vs. 1), and V0PWR correlated with V0SW ( r = 0.93, P <0.0001). V0PRW was related to steady-state EDV and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, allowing for estimation of V0PWR (V0Est) and single-beat PWRmx preload adjustment. Dividing PWRmx by the difference of EDV and V0PWR (PAMPV0PWR) eliminated preload dependency down to 50% of the baseline EDV. PWRmx adjustment using V0Est (PAMPV0Est) showed similar preload independency. Enhancing contractility increased PAMPV0PWR and PAMPV0Est from 176 ± 52 to 394 ± 205 W/ml × 104 and 145 ± 51 to 404 ± 261 W/ml × 104, respectively, accompanied by an increase of PRSW from 13.0 ± 4.5 to 29.7 ± 16.4 mmHg (all P <0.01). PAMPV0PWR and PAMPV0Est correlated with PRSW ( r = 0.85; r = 0.77; both P <0.001). Numerical modeling confirmed the accuracy of our experimental data. Thus preload adjustment of PWRmx should consider a linear PWRmx versus EDV relationship with distinct V0PWR. PAMPV0PWR is a preload-independent estimate of RV contractility that may eventually be determined noninvasively.

Contrast-enhanced Doppler hemodynamics for noninvasive assessment of patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction

We sought to evaluate whether contrast-enhanced Doppler echocardiography can improve the noninvasive estimation of hemodynamic variables in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Right-heart catheterization and Doppler echocardiography were simultaneously performed in 45 patients with LV dysfunction (ejection fraction: 29 +/- 7%) in sinus rhythm. Noninvasive variables were estimated as follows: cardiac output by pulsed Doppler of LV outflow tract; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure by a regression equation including mitral and pulmonary venous flow variables; pulmonary artery mean pressure from the calculated systolic and diastolic pulmonary artery pressures; and pulmonary vascular resistance from the previous measurements according to hemodynamic definition. Contrast enhancement increased the feasibility of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure estimation from 60% to 100%; of pulmonary artery mean pressure from 42% to 91%; and of pulmonary vascular resistance from 42% to 91%. Strong correlations between invasive and noninvasive hemodynamic variables were found: r = 0.90, standard error of the estimate (SEE) 0.45 L/min for cardiac output; r = 0.90, SEE 3.1 mm Hg for pulmonary capillary wedge pressure; r = 0.93, SEE 3.7 mm Hg for pulmonary artery mean pressure; and r = 0.85 SEE 1.0 Wood units for pulmonary vascular resistance. Weaker correlations for PAMP (r = 0.82, SEE 5.6 mm Hg) and PVR (r = 0.66, SEE 1.7 Wood units) were apparent prior to contrast enhancement. When patients were separated according to PVR threshold values, the contrast allowed the correct placement of 88% of patients, whereas only 57% were correctly assigned without it. The contrast increased accuracy and reduced interobserver variability in the evaluation of hemodynamic variables. The contrast-enhanced study is capable of increasing the value of noninvasive hemodynamic assessment in LV dysfunction.