Graphical abstract

Background Age-stratified analyses of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) are limited. The purpose of current study was to compare in-hospital outcomes in elderly AF patients (age > 80 years) to a relatively younger cohort (age £ 80 years) after LAAO. Methods Data were extracted from National Inpatient Sample for calendar years 2015–2018. LAAO device implantations were identified on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes of 37.90 and 02L73DK. The outcomes assessed in our study included complications, inpatient mortality, and resource utilization with LAAO. Results A total of 36,065 LAAO recipients were included in the final analysis, of which 34.6% (n=12,475) were performed on elderly AF patients. Elderly AF patients had a higher prevalence of major complications (6.7% vs. 5.7%, p < 0.01) and mortality (0.4% vs. 0.1%, p < 0.01) after LAAO device implantation in the crude analysis. After multivariate adjustment of potential confounders, age > 80 years was associated with increased risk of inpatient mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.439, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.391–8.239) but not major complications (aOR 1.084, 95% CI 0.971–1.211), prolonged length of stay (aOR 0.943, 95% CI 0.88–1.101), or increased hospitalization costs (aOR 0.909, 95% CI 0.865–0.955). Conclusion Over 1 in 3 LAAO device implantations occurred in elderly AF patients. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, advanced age was associated with inpatient mortality, but not with other LAAO procedural–related outcomes including major complications, prolonged length of stay, or increased hospitalization costs.

Treatment strategies to combat cardiogenic shock (CS) have remained stagnant over the past decade. Mortality rates among patients who suffer CS after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain high at 50%. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have evolved as novel treatment strategies to restore systemic perfusion to allow cardiac recovery in the short term, or as durable support devices in refractory heart failure in the long term. Haemodynamic parameters derived from right heart catheterization assist in the selection of an appropriate MCS device and escalation of mechanical support where needed. Evidence favouring the use of one MCS device over another is scant. An intra-aortic balloon pump is the most commonly used short-term MCS device, despite providing only modest haemodynamic support. Impella CP® has been increasingly used for CS in recent times and remains an important focus of research for patients with AMI-CS. Among durable devices, Heartmate® 3 is the most widely used in the USA. Adequately powered randomized controlled trials are needed to compare these MCS devices and to guide the operator for their use in CS. This article provides a brief overview of the types of currently available MCS devices and the indications for their use.

In this digital era, artificial intelligence (AI) is establishing a strong foothold in commercial industry and the field of technology. These effects are trickling into the healthcare industry, especially in the clinical arena of cardiology. Machine learning (ML) algorithms are making substantial progress in various subspecialties of cardiology. This will have a positive impact on patient care and move the field towards precision medicine. In this review article, we explore the progress of ML in cardiovascular imaging, electrophysiology, heart failure, and interventional cardiology.

Hypersensitivity myocarditis is a rare but serious adverse effect of clozapine, a commonly used psychiatric drug. We report the case of sudden cardiac death from clozapine-induced hypersensitivity myocarditis diagnosed at autopsy. A 54-year-old Caucasian male on clozapine therapy for bipolar disorder presented with a sudden onset of shortness of breath. Laboratory studies were significant for elevated N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide. During his hospital stay, the patient died of sudden cardiac arrest from ventricular tachycardia. The autopsy revealed hypersensitivity myocarditis, which usually occurs in the first 4 weeks after the initiation of clozapine. A 4-week monitoring protocol, including laboratory assessment of troponin and C-reactive protein, may assist in the early diagnosis of this potentially fatal condition.