Right ventricle dysfunction does not predict mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2-related acute respiratory distress syndrome on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

BACKGROUND The prognostic role of right ventricle dilatation and dysfunction(RVDD)has not been elucidated in patients with coronavirus disease(COVID)-related respiratory failure refractory to standard treatment needing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)support.AIM To assess whether pre veno-venous(VV)ECMO RVDD were related to inintensive care unit(ICU)mortality.METHODS We enrolled 61 patients with COVID-related acute respiratory distress syndrome refractory to conventional treatment submitted to VV ECMO and consecutively admitted to our ICU(an ECMO referral center)from 31th March 2020 to 31th August 2021.An echocardiographic exam was performed immediately before VV ECMO implantation.RESULTS Males were prevalent(73.8%)and patients with a body mass index>30 kg/m^(2) were the majority(46/61,75%).The overall in-ICU mortality rate was 54.1%(33/61).RVDD was detectable in more than half of the population(34/61,55.7%)and associated with higher simplified organ functional assessment(SOFA)values(P=0.029)and a longer mechanical ventilation duration prior to ECMO support(P=0.046).Renal replacement therapy was more frequently needed in RVDD patients(P=0.002).A higher in-ICU mortality(P=0.024)was observed in RVDD patients.No echo variables were independent predictors of in-ICU death.CONCLUSION In patients with COVID-related respiratory failure on ECMO support,RVDD(dilatation and dysfunction)is a common finding and identifies a subset of patients characterized by a more severe disease(as indicated by higher SOFA values and need of renal replacement therapy)and by a higher in-ICU mortality.RVDD(also when considered separately)did not result independently associated with in-ICU mortality in these patients.

Right ventricular-arterial uncoupling as an independent prognostic factor in acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction accompanied with coronary artery disease

Background:Right ventricular(RV)-arterial uncoupling is a powerful independent predictor of prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF).Coronary artery disease(CAD)can contribute to the pathophysiological characteristics of HFpEF.This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of RV-arterial uncoupling in acute HFpEF patients with CAD.Methods:This prospective study included 250 consecutive acute HFpEF patients with CAD.Patients were divided into RV-arterial uncoupling and coupling groups by the optimal cutoff value,based on a receiver operating characteristic curve of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to pulmonary artery systolic pressure(TAPSE/PASP).The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death,recurrent ischemic events,and HF hospitalizations.Results:TAPSE/PASP≤0.43 provided good accuracy in identifying patients with RV-arterial uncoupling(area under the curve,0.731;sensitivity,61.4%;and specificity,76.6%).Of the 250 patients,150 and 100 patients could be grouped into the RV-arterial coupling(TAPSE/PASP>0.43)and uncoupling(TAPSE/PASP≤0.43)groups,respectively.Revascularization strategies were slightly different between groups;the RV-arterial uncoupling group had a lower rate of complete revascularization(37.0%[37/100]vs.52.7%[79/150],P<0.001)and a higher rate of no revascularization(18.0%[18/100]vs.4.7%[7/150],P<0.001)compared to the RV-arterial coupling group.The cohort with TAPSE/PASP≤0.43 had a significantly worse prognosis than the cohort with TAPSE/PASP>0.43.Multivariate Cox analysis showed TAPSE/PASP≤0.43 as an independent associated factor for the primary endpoint,all-cause death,and recurrent HF hospitalization(hazard ratios[HR]:2.21,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.44-3.39,P<0.001;HR:3.32,95%CI:1.30-8.47,P=0.012;and HR:1.93,95%CI:1.10-3.37,P=0.021,respectively),but not for recurrent ischemic events(HR:1.48,95%CI:0.75-2.90,P=0.257).Conclusion:RV-arterial uncoupling,based on TAPSE/PASP,is independently associated with adverse outcomes in acute HFpEF patients with CAD.