Objective To report an acute ischemic left ventricular heart failure model of safe, simple, relatively steady, and reproducible in sheep. Methods Fourteen female sheep with a body weight of 36.80±3.43kg were used in this study. Heart failure model was induced by partial occluding the middle left circumflex coronary artery （LCX） combined with pacemaker-induced tachycardia. Hemodynamic measurement was done before and after heart failure, myocardial examination was observed. Results Heart failure model was induced successfully in 10 sheep. Cardiac output dropped from 3.74±0.48L/min to 2.02±0. 51L/min （P〈0. 01）, mean arterial pressure decreased from 116. 10± 14.15 mmHg（1kPa = 7.5mmHg） to 68. 10± 14. 72mmHg （P〈0.01）, central venous pressure rose from 7. 10±2.18mmHg to 10. 70± 3.50 mmHg （P〈0.05）, right ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased from 6.10±3.57mmHg to 9.90±4.41mmHg（P〈0.05）, left atrial pressure increased from 8.10±2.13 mmHg to 12.00± 4.57mmHg （P〈0. 01 ）, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased from 8. 50± 4. 17mmHg to 13.10± 10. 64mmHg（P〉 0. 05）. The myocardial ultrastructure injuries was marked. Conclusions Acute ischemic left ventricular heart failure could be induced by partial occlusion of the middle LCX combined with pacemaker-induced taehyeardia in sheep. This model is simple, easy to manipulate, relatively steady, and reproducible . It may be used for assessing cardiac assist devices.
Objective To assess the efficiency and safety of pulsatile catheter (PUCA) pump support during acute ischemic heart failure in sheep. Methods After heart failure model was induced successfully in 10 sheep, PUCA pump was inserted through aorta and the aortic valve orifice with its tip located in the left ventricle. It was then activated to support the hemodynamics for 3 hours. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored and recorded before thoracotomy, heart failure, and every 60 min after the support. Platelet and plasma free hemoglobin were tested during the experiment. Thrombosis in kidney, membrane-pump, and catheter were examined at the end of study. Results PUCA pump support was successful in 7 sheep for 3 hours and failed in 3 due to technical problems. During support with the PUCA pump, mean arterial pressure(MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP) increased gradually and close to the baseline at the end of experiment. No significant change in platelet and plasma free hemoglobin were found during the whole period of the PUCA pump support. No thrombosis was found as well by means of examining kidney, membrane-pump and catheter. Conclusions PUCA pump can successfully maintain the hemodynamics in a sheep acute heart failure model associated with few blood destruction and thrombosis. It is thus suitable for clinical application to heart failure patients for the maintenance of hemodynamics.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) on Chinese patients with congestive heart failure by meta analysis. Methods Both foreign language databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2009) and Chinese databases involving CBM, VIP and CJFD were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported the effect of rhBNP on the heart function (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the recent level of improvement in cardiac function) and its side effects of Chinese patients with congestive heart failure. Two reviewers assessed the quality of each trial and extracted data independently. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.8 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Nineteen RCTs were included, all of which came from internal. The methodological quality of the included studies was good. The baseline data of each trial were comparable. The results of meta-analyses showed: (1) the improvement of LVEF was higher in the rhBNP group than that in the blank control group (WMD=7.22, 95%CI 3.15 to 11.291, P=0.000 5). The level of improvement in cardiac function was better in the rhBNP group than those in the blank control group (OR=5.48, 95%CI 1.61 to 18.65, P=0.007), the nitroglycerin group (OR=3.60, 95%CI 2.02 to 6.41, Plt;0.000 1), and the sodium nitroprusside group (OR=3.21, 95%CI 0.12 to 85.20, P=0.49). The incidence of side effects was lower in the rhBNP group than that in the nitroglycerin group (OR=0.23, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.47, Plt;0.000 1), and the sodium nitroprusside group (OR=0.30, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.82, P=0.02). Moreover, the results of sensitivity analysis were also consistent with the above findings. Conclusion Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide can effectively improve the hemodynamics and cardiac function level of Chinese population of patients with heart failure. The treatment doses are safe and tolerant, so it is recommended to clinical use.
Dyspnea is the most common symptom in patients with acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS), and relieving dyspnea is an important goal in clinical practice, clinical trials and new drug regulatory approval. However, in clinical and scientific research, there is still no consensus on how to evaluate dyspnea, and there is still a lack of unified measurement methods. This article introduces the pathophysiological mechanism of dyspnea in acute heart failure, the measuring time of dyspnea, the posture of patients during measurement, the measuring conditions, and the common measurement methods of dyspnea in clinical trials and their advantages and disadvantages, so as to provide references for the selection of measurement methods of dyspnea in clinical trials of acute heart failure.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the difference in 30-day readmission rates among acute heart failure patients between real-world studies vs. randomized controlled trials (RCTs). MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, VIP and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect clinical studies on 30-day readmission rates in patients with acute heart failure from inception to April 12th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using Stata 16.0 software. ResultsA total of 33 real-world studies and 11 RCTs involving 106 722 subjects were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the 30-day heart failure-related readmission rates in the real-world studies and RCTs were 10.8% (95%CI 9.3% to 12.3%) and 6.9% (95%CI 5.3% to 8.4%), respectively. The 30-day all-cause readmission rates in real-world studies and randomized controlled studies were 18.6% (95%CI 15.7% to 21.4%) and 14.2% (95%CI 12.0% to 16.3%), respectively. There were statistically significant differences between two kinds of studies (P<0.05). ConclusionsCurrent evidence suggests that the 30-day heart failure-related and all-cause readmission rates in patients of acute heart failure in real-world studies are significantly higher than those in patients of RCTs. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusions.
Objective To explore the predictive value of Composite Congestion Score (CCS) in predicting adverse events within 180 days in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in emergency intensive care unit (EICU). Methods The patients with AHF who were admitted to EICU of Zigong Fourth People’s Hospital between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020 were included consecutively. The patients were followed up for 180 days, and were divided into poor prognosis group and good prognosis group according to whether there were adverse events. Logistic regression equation was used to screen independent risk factors for predicting adverse events in patients with AHF within 180 days after leaving EICU. To compare the discrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness of independent risk factors at EICU discharge and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Assessment SystemⅡ (APACHEⅡ) score at EICU admission to predict the occurrence of adverse events of AHF. Results A total of 71 patients were included, including 32 patients with good prognosis and 39 patients with poor prognosis. Except for age, APACHEⅡscore at EICU admission and CCS score at EICU discharge (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in other indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that CCS score at EICU discharge [odds ratio (OR)=2.806, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.428, 5.512), P=0.003], age [OR=1.086, 95%CI (1.017, 1.159), P=0.013] were independent risk factors for predicting death or returning to hospital within 180 days. Among them, the CCS score at EICU discharge combining with age had a positive improvement ability compared with the CCS score at EICU discharge, the age, and the APACHE Ⅱ score at EICU admission. The calibration curves of the four scoring methods for predicting adverse events within 180 days showed that the CCS score at EICU discharge had the highest calibration and the calibration of age was the lowest. The decision curve showed that the clinical usefulness of age, the CCS score at EICU discharge and the CCS score at EICU discharge combining with age was better than the APACHE Ⅱ score at EICU admission. Conclusions The CCS score of patients with AHF at EICU discharge is closely related to adverse events within 180 days. The CCS score is designed based on clinical variables, simple and practical. The combination of age and the CCS score at EICU discharge will further enhance its clinical application value.
Patients with acute heart failure (AHF) often experience dyspnea, and monitoring and quantifying their breathing patterns can provide reference information for disease and prognosis assessment. In this study, 39 AHF patients and 24 healthy subjects were included. Nighttime chest-abdominal respiratory signals were collected using wearable devices, and the differences in nocturnal breathing patterns between the two groups were quantitatively analyzed. Compared with the healthy group, the AHF group showed a higher mean breathing rate (BR_mean) [(21.03 ± 3.84) beat/min vs. (15.95 ± 3.08) beat/min, P < 0.001], and larger R_RSBI_cv [70.96% (54.34%–104.28)% vs. 58.48% (45.34%–65.95)%, P = 0.005], greater AB_ratio_cv [(22.52 ± 7.14)% vs. (17.10 ± 6.83)%, P = 0.004], and smaller SampEn (0.67 ± 0.37 vs. 1.01 ± 0.29, P < 0.001). Additionally, the mean inspiratory time (TI_mean) and expiration time (TE_mean) were shorter, TI_cv and TE_cv were greater. Furthermore, the LBI_cv was greater, while SD1 and SD2 on the Poincare plot were larger in the AHF group, all of which showed statistically significant differences. Logistic regression calibration revealed that the TI_mean reduction was a risk factor for AHF. The BR_ mean demonstrated the strongest ability to distinguish between the two groups, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.846. Parameters such as breathing period, amplitude, coordination, and nonlinear parameters effectively quantify abnormal breathing patterns in AHF patients. Specifically, the reduction in TI_mean serves as a risk factor for AHF, while the BR_mean distinguishes between the two groups. These findings have the potential to provide new information for the assessment of AHF patients.