American Society of Nuclear Cardiology review of the ACCF/ASNC appropriateness criteria for single-photon emission computed tomograph myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI)

Conclusion  The ACCF/ASNC AC for SPECT MPI provides recommendations for the appropriate use of SPECT MPI. After the publication of the AC document in 2005, the AC has been used by nuclear cardiology practices with many clinical studies evaluating the list of indications in routine clinical practice. From these data. ASNC recommends minor but important changes to the indication list, suggesting the addition of 6 new indications and the modification of the definitions for “chest pain syndrome” and “CHD high risk.”. An objective review of existing indications focused on only those indications that had significant variability among the reviewers (n=20). These indications were reviewed in the presence of existing and new evidence-based data, and ASNC recommends that the grades for 6 indications be re-evaluated. The AC for SPECT MPI will require periodic review as new evidence becomes available or as clinical practice evolves. ASNC recognizes the importance of these criteria to improve the quality of patient care, and it will continue to play a key role in assembling the information for this ongoing review. From the current summary of evidence, ASNC consensus opinions, and ASNC recommendations in this document, ASNC strongly recommends that the AC guidelines be reviewed Prepared by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Quality Assurance Subcommittee for Quality in Imaging Standards. Reviewed by members of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Quality Assurance Committee. Approved by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Board of Directors, September 6, 20.     

A hypertensive response to exercise is associated with transient ischemic dilation on myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging.

BACKGROUND: A hypertensive response to exercise (HRE) is associated with false-positive stress echocardiograms and myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (myocardial perfusion imaging [MPI]) defects even in the absence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Transient ischemic dilation (TID) of the left ventricle on stress MPI is a marker of severe CAD and future cardiac events. This study evaluated the association between an HRE and TID. METHODS AND RESULTS: Blinded quantitative TID assessment was performed in 125 patients who had an HRE and a summed stress score (SSS) of less than 4, as well as 125 control patients with an SSS of less than 4 and without an HRE matched for age, gender, and resting systolic blood pressure. Cardiac comorbidities, pretest Framingham risk, and exercise results were recorded. TID was defined as a stress-to-rest volume ratio of 1.22 or greater. An HRE was associated with a high prevalence of TID and significantly more TID than no HRE (25.6% vs 11.2%; odds ratio, 3.00 [95% confidence interval, 1.41-6.38]). TID was more prevalent even in subgroups with a low pretest probability CAD, including those without diabetes mellitus or angina. On conditional logistic regression analysis, an HRE was found to be independently associated with TID after consideration of other clinical and exercise MPI variables (odds ratio, 2.72 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-7.31]). CONCLUSION: An HRE is associated with a high prevalence of TID in patients without other significant perfusion defects, possibly as a result of global subendocardial ischemia induced by the HRE.     

The effects of anesthesia and surgery on metabolic homeostasis in infancy and childhood

In order to test the hypothesis that the metabolic response to surgery in childhood varies with the age of the child and the severity of the surgery, 46 children, aged 1 month to 10 years and undergoing a variety of operations under a standard general anesthetic, were studied. Blood samples were drawn for analysis preoperatively, postoperatively, and at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Severity of surgery was scored using the Oxford surgical stress scale (SSS). Surgery caused significant increases in the concentrations of lactate, pyruvate, and ketone bodies that were related to SSS, but not to age. Increases in blood glucose and insulin were also related to SSS. Total gluconeogenic substrate concentrations were markedly depressed 24 hours after surgery; this was well predicted by SSS but not by age. Older children tended to have a slightly more prolonged elevation of blood glucose and prolonged elevation of the insulin:glucose ratio postoperatively. The metabolic response of children to surgery, although different from both adults and neonates, is generally stable over a wide age range. The Oxford scale predicts the degree of metabolic displacement due to surgery and may thus prove a useful instrument in trials of anesthesia and analgesia in infants and children.     

Catheter ablation by low energy DC shocks for successful management of atrial flutter.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the effects of low energy ablation of the substrate for atrial flutter. DESIGN--Initial retrospective analysis of patients undergoing low energy ablation of the atrioventricular node for refractory atrial flutter (group 1) was followed by a prospective assessment of low energy ablation in the posterio-inferior right atrium for the same condition (group 2). SETTING--Tertiary referral centre for management of cardiac arrhythmias. PATIENTS--Seven men (aged 50-67 years) with refractory atrial flutter. INTERVENTIONS--Multiple (3-10) low energy DC shocks with a cumulative energy of 100-245 J in the region of the atrioventricular node in group 1 and 12-15 low energy DC shocks (cumulative energy 110-235 J) guided by the anatomical landmarks of the triangle of Koch and applied directly to the atrial wall. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Freedom from recurrence of atrial flutter. RESULTS--In group 1 despite initial complete atrioventricular block in three patients, atrioventricular conduction had resumed in all by one month. All four, however, were in sinus rhythm at follow up six to 13 months later. Two of the three patients in group 2 were free of atrial flutter at follow up three to four months after ablation. CONCLUSION--Ablation of the atrial flutter substrate with low energy DC shocks is feasible. Precise electrophysiological mapping is not necessary.