Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio(TAPSE/sPAP) in identifying precapillary pulmonary hypertension(pcPH) patients requiring repeat balloon pulmonary angioplasty(BPA) within 3 months after initial intervention, and to determine independent risk factors associated with postoperative reintervention.Methods:We retrospectively collected clinical data from 215 consecutive patients with pcPH undergoing BPA. After applying exclusion criteria, 200 patients were ultimately included in the analysis. The predictive value of the TAPSE/sPAP for short-term BPA reintervention was assessed using receiver operating characteristic( ROC) curve analysis and multivariable logistic regression. Internal validation was performed through bootstrap resampling with 1 000 iterations to evaluate model stability. Results:A risk model for echocardiography was constructed using multiple logistic regression, and the results showed that systolic pulmonary artery pressure(sPAP), peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity(TRV), tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient(PGTR), and TAPSE/sPAP ratio were predictive factors for BPA surgery in patients with pulmonary hypertension within 3 months. Multivariate regression analysis suggests that the TAPSE/sPAP ratio is an independent influencing factor for BPA after 3 months( OR=0.023, P<0.05). The predicted area under the ROC curve( AUC) for BPA after 3 months is 0.62(95% CI: 0.530-0.648), P<0.01, which is better than other cardiac ultrasound indicators. At the same time, internal bootstrap method was used for internal self-validation, and the AUC of the internal self-validation set was 0.67. Conclusion:The TAPSE/sPAP ratio serves as an independent predictor for requiring repeat BPA within 3 months postoperatively in patients with pcPH.

Objective To assess the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy(CIN)in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension(CTEPH)after receiving balloon pulmonary angioplasty(BPA),and to evaluate the effect of the contrast agents on renal function.Methods A total of 143 CTEPH patients,who received BPA at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital of China from December 2018 to May 2022,were enrolled in this study.The clinical data,hemodynamic indicators,and serum creatinine(SC)concentrations within one week before and 48-72 h after BPA were collected.The estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)was calculated according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease(MDRD)formula.The SC concentration and eGFR changes before and after each BPA procedure were compared.The incidence of CIN and its risk factors were evaluated,and the changes in hemodynamics,SC and eGFR after the initial and last time of BPA treatment were analyzed.Results A total of 192 BPA procedures were performed in 115 CTEPH patients,including 88 BPA procedures in males and 103 BPA procedures in females.The mean amount of contrast agent used for each BPA was(145.58±47.26)mL.After BPA,12 patients developed 13 times of CIN,with an incidence of 6.8％.There was no significant differences(P＞0.05)in the baseline characteristics and SC concentration before BPA between CIN patients and non-CIN patients.In terms of the hemodynamic indexes,the mixed venous oxygen saturation(SvO2)in CIN patients was significantly lower than that in non-CIN patients(58.58％±10.38％vs.66.15％±8.02％,P=0.002),and no statistically significant differences(P＞0.05)in the other hemodynamic indexes existed between CIN group and non-CIN group.No statistically significant differences in SC concentration and eGFR existed before and after each BPA procedure.In patients who had received several BPA procedures,significant improvements in the SC[(78.09±18.760)μmol/L vs.(82.26±21.37)μmol/L,P＜0.001]and eGFR[(86.08±21.22)mL/(min·1.73 m2)vs.(82.07±22.05)mL/(min·1.73 m2),P=0.007]was achieved when compared with their baseline values.Conclusion CTEPH patients may develop CIN after receiving BPA treatment.After receiving several BPA treatments the patient's clinical symptoms and hemodynamics can be improved,and the patient's renal function is also significantly improved.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio(TAPSE/sPAP) in identifying precapillary pulmonary hypertension(pcPH) patients requiring repeat balloon pulmonary angioplasty(BPA) within 3 months after initial intervention, and to determine independent risk factors associated with postoperative reintervention.Methods:We retrospectively collected clinical data from 215 consecutive patients with pcPH undergoing BPA. After applying exclusion criteria, 200 patients were ultimately included in the analysis. The predictive value of the TAPSE/sPAP for short-term BPA reintervention was assessed using receiver operating characteristic( ROC) curve analysis and multivariable logistic regression. Internal validation was performed through bootstrap resampling with 1 000 iterations to evaluate model stability. Results:A risk model for echocardiography was constructed using multiple logistic regression, and the results showed that systolic pulmonary artery pressure(sPAP), peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity(TRV), tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient(PGTR), and TAPSE/sPAP ratio were predictive factors for BPA surgery in patients with pulmonary hypertension within 3 months. Multivariate regression analysis suggests that the TAPSE/sPAP ratio is an independent influencing factor for BPA after 3 months( OR=0.023, P<0.05). The predicted area under the ROC curve( AUC) for BPA after 3 months is 0.62(95% CI: 0.530-0.648), P<0.01, which is better than other cardiac ultrasound indicators. At the same time, internal bootstrap method was used for internal self-validation, and the AUC of the internal self-validation set was 0.67. Conclusion:The TAPSE/sPAP ratio serves as an independent predictor for requiring repeat BPA within 3 months postoperatively in patients with pcPH.

Background::Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a fatal cardiovascular disease, yet missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis often occur due to non-specific symptoms and signs. A simple, objective technique will help clinicians make a quick and precise diagnosis. In population studies, machine learning (ML) plays a critical role in characterizing cardiovascular risks, predicting outcomes, and identifying biomarkers. This work sought to develop an ML model for helping APE diagnosis and compare it against current clinical probability assessment models.Methods::This is a single-center retrospective study. Patients with suspected APE were continuously enrolled and randomly divided into two groups including training and testing sets. A total of 8 ML models, including random forest (RF), Na?ve Bayes, decision tree, K-nearest neighbors, logistic regression, multi-layer perceptron, support vector machine, and gradient boosting decision tree were developed based on the training set to diagnose APE. Thereafter, the model with the best diagnostic performance was selected and evaluated against the current clinical assessment strategies, including the Wells score, revised Geneva score, and Years algorithm. Eventually, the ML model was internally validated to assess the diagnostic performance using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.Results::The ML models were constructed using eight clinical features, including D-dimer, cardiac troponin T (cTNT), arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, chest pain, lower limb pain, hemoptysis, and chronic heart failure. Among eight ML models, the RF model achieved the best performance with the highest area under the curve (AUC) (AUC = 0.774). Compared to the current clinical assessment strategies, the RF model outperformed the Wells score ( P = 0.030) and was not inferior to any other clinical probability assessment strategy. The AUC of the RF model for diagnosing APE onset in internal validation set was 0.726. Conclusions::Based on RF algorithm, a novel prediction model was finally constructed for APE diagnosis. When compared to the current clinical assessment strategies, the RF model achieved better diagnostic efficacy and accuracy. Therefore, the ML algorithm can be a useful tool in assisting with the diagnosis of APE.

Objective:To investigate the values of two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic parameters in predicting pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in chronic pulmonary thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Methods:A total of 141 patients diagnosed with CTEPH in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2015 to December 2022 were included. Two-dimensional echocardiographic indicators reflecting PVR were constructed according to the calculation formula of PVR: echocardiographic estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP Echo)/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd), echocardiographic estimated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP Echo)/LVIDd. sPAP Echo/left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), sPAP Echo/left ventricular cardiac output (LVCO) were measured by three-dimensional echocardiography. The correlations between two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic ratios and invasive PVR were then analyzed using the Spearman correlation method. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, cut-off values for the ratios were generated to identify patients with PVR>1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5. Pre- and postoperative hemodynamics and echocardiographic data were analyzed, as well as the correlation between the reduction rate of the echocardiographic index and PVR in 54 patients who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). Results:sPAP Echo/LVIDd, sPAP Echo/LVEDV and sPAP Echo/LVCO were moderately correlated with PVR( rs=0.62, 0.52, 0.63, both P<0.001). The ratio of sPAP Echo to LVEDV, when greater than or equal to 1.41, had a sensitivity of 0.800 and a specificity of 0.930 for determining PVR >1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5 (AUC=0.860, P<0.001). Similarly, the ratio of sPAP Echo to LVIDd, when greater than or equal to 2.14, had a sensitivity of 0.647 and a specificity of 0.861 for determining PVR >1000 dyn·s -1·cm -5 (AUC=0.830, P<0.001). The sPAP Echo/LVIDd and mPAP Echo/LVIDd significantly decreased after PEA (both P<0.001). The sPAP Echo/LVIDd and mPAP Echo/LVIDd reduction rate (ΔsPAP Echo/LVIDd and ΔmPAP Echo/LVIDd) were significantly correlated with PVR reduction rate (ΔPVR), respectively ( rs=0.61, 0.63, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Two-dimensional ratio sPAP Echo/LVIDd and three-dimensional ratio sPAP Echo/LVEDV can be used to noninvasively estimate PVR in CTEPH patients. The conventional ratio sPAP Echo/LVIDd is convenient and reproducibly suitable for monitoring the improvement of PVR before and after treatment, and its ratio of 2.14 can predict the significant increase of PVR in CTEPH patients (>1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5).

Objective:To explore the risk assessment and prevention management of hospital-associated venous thromboembolism (HA-VTE) in plateau area.Methods:This was a prospective observational study. A total of 200 patients hospitalized for acute medical diseases or surgery in the People′s Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region from May to June 2022 were consecutively enrolled. Padua score or Caprini risk assessment model was used for dynamic risk assessment and stratification of VTE in all patients. At the same time, bleeding risk was assessed according to age, complications, trauma history, drug therapy, invasive procedures and other factors. The implementation of mechanical and/or drug prophylaxis was dynamically recorded during hospitalization. The change of VTE risk and prevention during hospitalization were the primary outcome, and the occurrence of HA-VTE events and bleeding events during hospitalization or within 90 days after enrollment were the secondary outcome.Results:A total of 196 patients were enrolled in the study, including 130 (66.3%) in internal medicine and 66 (33.7%) in surgery. There were 64 (49.2 %) and 27 (40.9%) patients with high risk of VTE within 1 day after admission among medical and surgical patients, respectively. During hospitalization, 58 (44.6%) and 49 (74.2%) patients with high risk of VTE were re-evaluated among medical and surgical patients, respectively. There were 39 (30.0%) medical patients and 54 (81.8%) surgical patients who had an increased risk of VTE due to changes in their conditions. In terms of VTE prevention, 32 patients (16.3%) received VTE prophylaxis, only 17 medical patients (8.7%) with high risk of VTE received drug prophylaxis, and 2 patients (1.0%) with high risk of VTE developed HA-VTE events after drug prophylaxis. A total of 8 (4.1%) surgical patients received drug prophylaxis, of which 1 (0.5%) received mechanical prophylaxis at the same time, and no surgical patients experienced HA-VTE events after prophylaxis. HA-VTE events occurred in 11 patients (5.6%) during hospitalization or within 90 days after enrollment.Conclusion:Considering the complex and changeable risk factors of VTE, insufficient VTE prevention and high incidence of HA-VTE in hospitalized patients in plateau areas, Padua score and Caprini risk assessment model are recommended for early, dynamic and full VTE risk assessment of patients, so as to standardize the VTE prevention and improve the quality of health management of hospitalized patients in plateau areas.

Humans ; Venous Thromboembolism/prevention & control* ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Patients ; Hospitalization ; Risk Factors

Humans ; Hospital Mortality ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Comorbidity ; Registries ; Neoplasms/complications*

Objective:To assess the configuration and systolic function of the left ventricle in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) by routine ultrasound, two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging and three-dimensional echocardiography, and to observe the recovery after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA).Methods:The patients who were diagnosed with CTEPH, underwent PEA and had no left heart disease were enrolled as the CTEPH group ( n=30) in the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2016 and June 2021. The right heart catheterization data before and after surgery were recorded. In the meantime, gender- and age-matched healthy individuals who sought for physical examination during the same period were included as the control group ( n=23). Echocardiography findings before and after PEA were comparatively analyzed and compared between the two groups, including left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), right and left ventricular cross-section ratio (RVd/LVd), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), left ventricular end-diastolic/systolic volume index (LVEDVi/LVESVi), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV). Associations between the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP)/pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and left ventricular function were discussed. Results:When compared with the control group, the LVEDd, LVEDVi, LVESVi, LVSV, LVGLS and the mitral early to late diastolic flow velocity ratio (E/A) in the CTEPH group were lower (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding LVEF, cardiac output (CO), and cardiac index (CI) (all P>0.05). There were no statistical differences of the left ventricular volume and LVSV between PEA group and the control group (both P>0.05), while the LVGLS and E/A remained lower (both P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed negative associations between mPAP and LVSV as well as E/A ( r=-0.490, -0.455; both P<0.05). Conclusions:There are changes in left ventricular configuration with abnormal filling pattern and potential systolic dysfunction in CTEPH patients. The PEA surgery could lead to recovery of the left ventricular configuration and volume, but the filling pattern and LVGLS at follow-up can not recover completely.