著者

Tomoko Machino-Ohtsuka Kentaro Minami Hiro Yamasaki Tomofumi Nakatsukasa Naoto Kawamatsu Kimi Sato Masayoshi Yamamoto Kazushi Maruo Tomoko Ishizu Yasushi Kawakami Masaki Ieda

出版者

The Japanese Circulation Society

雑誌

Circulation Journal (ISSN:13469843)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.CJ-23-0271, (Released:2023-06-30)

参考文献数

26

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Background: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and severe blood stasis in the left atrial appendage (LAA), dense spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) disturbs the distinct visualization of the LAA interior, thus making thrombus diagnosis inconclusive. We aimed to prospectively assess the efficacy and safety of a protocol for a low-dose isoproterenol (ISP) infusion to reduce SEC to exclude an LAA thrombus.Methods and Results: We enrolled 17 patients with AF and dense SEC (Grade 4 or sludge). ISP was infused with gradually increasing doses of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 μg/kg/min at 3-min intervals. After increasing the dose to 0.03 μg/kg/min for 3 min, or when the LAA interior was visible, the infusion was terminated. We reassessed the SEC grade, presence of an LAA thrombus, LAA function, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) within 1 min of ISP termination. Compared with baseline, ISP significantly increased LAA flow velocity, the LAA emptying fraction, LAA wall velocities, and LVEF (all P<0.01). ISP administration significantly reduced the SEC grade (median) from 4 to 1 (P<0.001). The SEC grade decreased to ≤2 in 15 (88%) patients, and the LAA thrombus was excluded. There were no adverse events.Conclusions: Low-dose ISP infusion may be effective and safe to reduce SEC and exclude an LAA thrombus by improving LAA function and LVEF.

著者

Keitaro Shinada Takashi Kohno Keiichi Fukuda Michiaki Higashitani Naoto Kawamatsu Takeshi Kitai Tatsuhiro Shibata Makoto Takei Kotaro Nochioka Gaku Nakazawa Hiroki Shiomi Mitsunori Miyashita Atsushi Mizuno

出版者

The Japanese Circulation Society

雑誌

Circulation Journal (ISSN:13469843)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.CJ-23-0507, (Released:2023-11-22)

参考文献数

29

被引用文献数

1

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Background: Enhanced discussions regarding end-of-life (EOL) are crucial to provide appropriate care for seriously ill patients. However, the current status of EOL discussions, especially their timing and influencing factors, among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains unknown.Methods and Results: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of bereaved family members of CVD patients who died at 10 tertiary care institutes in Japan. In all, 286 bereaved family members (38.2% male; median age 66.0 [interquartile range 58.0–73.0] years) of CVD patients were enrolled; of these, 200 (69.9%) reported that their families had had EOL discussions with physicians. The major topic discussed was resuscitation (79.0%), and 21.5% discussed the place of EOL care. Most discussions were held during hospitalization of the patient (88.2%). More than half (57.1%) the discussions were initiated less than 1 month before the patient died, and 22.6% of family members felt that this timing of EOL discussions was late. Bereaved family members’ perception of late EOL discussions was associated with the family members aggressive attitude towards life-prolonging treatment, less preparedness for bereavement, and less satisfaction with EOL care.Conclusions: Approximately 70% of bereaved family members of CVD patients had EOL discussions, which were often held shortly before the patient died. Further research is required to establish an ideal approach to EOL discussions at an appropriate time, which may improve the quality of EOL care.