Perivascular fat attenuation for predicting adverse cardiac events in stable patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography

BackgroundInflammation surrounding the coronary arteries can be non-invasively assessed using pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCAT). While PCAT holds promise for further risk stratification of patients with low coronary artery disease (CAD) prevalence, its value in higher risk populations remains unknown.MethodsCORE320 enrolled patients referred for invasive coronary angiography with known or suspected CAD. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images were collected for 381 patients for whom clinical outcomes were assessed 5 years after enrollment. Using semi-automated image analysis software, PCAT was obtained and normalized for the right coronary (RCA), left anterior descending (LAD), and left circumflex arteries (LCx). The association between PCAT and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during follow up was assessed using Cox regression models.ResultsThirty-seven patients were excluded due to technical failure. For the remaining 344 patients, median age was 62 (interquartile range, 55–68) with 59% having ≥1 coronary artery stenosis of ≥50% by quantitative coronary angiography. Mean attenuation values for PCAT in RCA, LAD, and LCx were ?74.9, ?74.2, and ?71.2, respectively. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for normalized PCAT in the RCA, LAD, and LCx for MACE were 0.96 (CI: 0.75–1.22, p ?= ?0.71), 1.31 (95% CI: 0.96–1.78, p ?= ?0.09), and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.78–1.22, p ?= ?0.84), respectively. For death, stroke, or myocardial infarction only, hazard ratios were 0.68 (0.44–1.07), 0.85 (0.56–1.29), and 0.57 (0.41–0.80), respectively.ConclusionsIn patients referred for invasive coronary angiography with suspected CAD, PCAT did not predict MACE during long term follow up. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship of PCAT with CAD risk.     

Cardiac-type total anomalous pulmonary venous return is not benign

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the association between morphological variation and postsurgical pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis (PPVS) in patients with cardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).MethodsThis single-center, retrospective study included 168 pediatric patients who underwent surgical repair of cardiac TAPVC from 2013 to 2019 (connection to the coronary sinus [CS], n = 136; connection directly to the right atrium [RA], n = 32). Three-dimensional computed tomography modeling and geometric analysis were performed to investigate the morphological features; their relevance to the PPVS was examined.ResultsThe connection type had no association with PPVS (CS type: 18% vs right atrial type: 19%; P = .89) but there was a higher incidence of PPVS in patients with a single PV orifice than > 1 orifice (P < .001). Confluence-to-total PV area ratio (hazard ratio, 4.78, 95% CI, 1.86-12.32; P = .001) and length of drainage route (hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.31; P < .001) had a 4- and 1-fold increase in the risk for PPVS in the CS type after adjustment for age and preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction. In the right atrial type, those with anomalous PV return to the RA roof were more likely to develop PPVS than to the posterior wall of the RA (P < .001).ConclusionsThe number of inter-junction PV orifice correlated with PPVS development in cardiac TAPVC. The confluence-to-total PV ratio, length of drainage route, and anomalous PV return to the RA roof are important predictors for PPVS. Morphological subcategorization in this clinical setting can potentially assist in surgical decision-making.     

卡托普利对左向右分流先天性心脏病肺动脉高压患者的血液动力学影响观察

目的观察卡托普利对左向右分流先天性心脏病肺动脉高压患者的血液动力学影响。方法随机选取2018年5月～2019年5月我院左向右分流先天性心脏病患者30例,给予所有患者卡托普利治疗,治疗前、治疗后3～5 d分别采用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪(麦瑞Resona 75型)对患者的血液动力学指标进行检测,然后统计分析30例患者治疗前后的血液动力学。结果 30例患者治疗后的PAMP、AMP、TSR均显著低于治疗前(P0.05)。30例患者中治疗后19例TPR/TSR上升,11例TPR/TSR下降。TPR/TSR上升患者治疗后的AMP、TSR、Qp/Qs均显著低于治疗前(P0.05),TPR/TSR、Qs均显著高于治疗前(P0.05);TPR/TSR下降患者治疗后的PAMP、AMP、PAMP/AMP、TPR、TPR/TSR均显著低于治疗前(P0.05),Qp/Qs显著高于治疗前(P0.05)。治疗前TPR/TSR上升患者的TPR/TSR显著低于TPR/TSR下降患者(P0.05),但二者的PAMP、AMP、PAMP/AMP、TPR、TSR、Qp、Qs、Qp/Qs之间的差异均不显著(P0.05)。结论卡托普利能够有效降低左向右分流先天性心脏病患者的肺动脉高压,但会提升患者的Qp/Qs。     

Cranio-caudal approach to hepatic veins in laparoscopic central bisectionectomy (with Video)

BackgroundLaparoscopic central bisectionectomy (Couinaud's segment IV, V, and VIII) needs exposure of the RHV and MHV on the surface of the remnant and the resecting side, respectively. Avoiding venous injury is mandatory and laparoscopy-specific cranio-caudal approach to hepatic veins might be helpful [1]. We present this procedure in performing laparoscopic central bisectionectomy.PatientA 45-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with a 6 cm HCC in the segment VIII and IV. Her comorbid disease was non-cirrhotic HBV hepatitis (Child-Pugh grade A) and diabetes (untreated).MethodAfter cholecystectomy, G₄ branches were dissected and cut by extra- or intra-hepatic approach. Hilar plate was dissected and the G_ant was encircled and occluded by a vascular clip. Afterwards, exposure of the MHV was started at its root on IVC [2,3] and extended in cranio-caudal direction [1]. After sufficient space was obtained around the G_ant, the G_ant and the MHV were cut. Parenchymal transection between right anterior and right posterior sections was also started form the root of the RHV to its cranio-caudal direction. Liver resection was finished with full exposure of the RHV.ResultsThe operating time was 380 minutes, and the blood loss volume was 30 ml. Postoperative CT image showed exposure of the RHV and umbilical portion of Glissonean branch, and no fluid retention.ConclusionLaparoscopy-specific cranio-caudal approach to hepatic veins may be useful to avoid split injury of venous branches [4], especially if the hepatectomy requires complete exposure of hepatic vein, such as central bisectionectomy.