Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock excluding Impella and IABP use. Method: The large Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to study any association between the use of ECMO in adults over the age of 18 and mortality and complications with a diagnosis of cardiogenic shocks. Results: ICD-10 codes for ECMO and cardiogenic shock for the available years 2016–2020 were utilized. A total of 796,585 (age 66.5 ± 14.4) patients had a diagnosis of cardiogenic shock excluding Impella. Of these patients, 13,160 (age 53.7 ± 15.4) were treated with ECMO without IABP use. Total inpatient mortality without any device was 32.7%. It was 47.9% with ECMO. In a multivariate analysis adjusting for 47 variables such as age, gender, race, lactic acidosis, three-vessel intervention, left main myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, systolic heart failure, acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, chronic renal disease, etc., ECMO utilization remained highly associated with mortality (OR: 1.78, CI: 1.6–1.9, p < 0.001). Evaluating teaching hospitals only revealed similar findings. Major complications were also high in the ECMO cohort. Conclusions: In patients with cardiogenic shock, the use of ECMO was associated with the high in-hospital mortality regardless of comorbid condition, high-risk futures, or type of hospital.

The impact of dose variation of Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in reducing blood pressure (BP) in patients with diabetes and hypertension remains unclear. A systematic search up to December 29, 2024 identified randomized trials reporting SGLT2 inhibitor effects on 24-h, daytime, nighttime, and office BP, along with hypoglycemia, urinary tract infections, and volume depletion. Continuous outcomes were synthesized as mean differences and safety outcomes as odds ratios within a Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis. Dose–response patterns were examined using Bayesian meta-regression (ΔDIC), and treatment rankings were derived using SUCRA. Nine RCTs involving 9093 participants were included. SGLT2 inhibitors produced modest reductions across 24-h, daytime, nighttime, and office BP, with the largest numerical effect for empagliflozin 25 mg (SBP –5.93 mm Hg), but no credibly significant differences among agents in head-to-head comparisons. Safety outcomes showed no credibly significant excess risk for hypoglycemia, UTI, or volume depletion, with overall event rates low. Bayesian meta-regression yielded ΔDIC values near zero, indicating no detectable dose–response pattern for either blood pressure or safety outcomes. SGLT2 inhibitors produced modest and consistent reductions in BP, with no evidence of dose-dependence or meaningful differences among agents. Safety events were not credibly increased. These findings support their use as adjunctive therapy in patients with diabetes and hypertension.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator (ECMO) on mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock excluding Impella and IABP use. Method: The large Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to study any association between the use of ECMO in adults over age of 18 on mortality and complications with a diagnosis of cardiogenic shocks. Results: ICD-10 codes for ECMO, and cardiogenic shock for available years 2016-2020 were utilized. A total of 796,585 (age 66.5±14.4) patients had a diagnosis of cardiogenic shock excluding Impella. 13,160 (age 53.7±15.4) were treated with ECMO without IABP. Total inpatient mortality without any device was 32.7%. It was 47.9% with ECMO. Using multivariate analysis adjusting for 47 variables such as age, gender, race, lactic acidosis, three-vessel intervention, left main myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, systolic heart failure, acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, chronic renal disease, etc., ECMO utilization remained highly associated with mortality (OR: 1.78, CI: 1.6-1.9, p<0.001). Evaluating teaching hospitals only revealed similar findings. Major complications were also high in ECMO cohort. Conclusion: In patients with cardiogenic shock, the use of ECMO was associated with the high in hospital mortality regardless of comorbid condition, high-risk futures, or type of hospital.

Background: Mechanical heart valve replacement is a standard treatment for severe valvular disorders. The use of mono-leaflet valves has decreased recently. Recognizing the echocardiographic features of mono-leaflet and bileaflet valves is crucial for accurate complication diagnosis and proper management.Case Presentation: A 65-year-old female with mono-leaflet mitral and bileaflet tricuspid valves underwent an echocardiographic assessment. This simple educational case provides a unique opportunity to compare the echocardiographic features of these valves within a single patient.Conclusion: There is a crucial need for clinicians, particularly those in training, to differentiate between mono-leaflet and bileaflet mechanical heart valves adeptly. With mono-leaflet valves decreasing in prevalence, proficiency in recognizing the echocardiographic nuances of each type is imperative. Failure to do so may result in misdiagnoses and inappropriate management. This underscores the significance of continuous education and vigilance in echocardiographic assessments to ensure optimal patient care.

Background: There are uncertainties regarding long‐term outcomes of low‐flow, low‐gradient (LFLG) severe aortic stenosis (AS) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study investigates long‐term outcomes of TAVR for high‐gradient (HG), classical LFLG, and paradoxical LFLG AS. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases until January 2025 for studies comparing HG, classical LFLG, and paradoxical LFLG AS outcomes following TAVR. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality, analyzed using reconstructed individual patient data meta‐analysis. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular mortality, heart failure hospitalization, acute kidney injury, bleeding events, stroke, myocardial infarction, permanent pacemaker implantation, and echocardiographic outcomes, analyzed using multivariate meta‐analysis. Results: We included 19 observational studies comprising 20 493 patients who underwent TAVR for severe AS. Time‐to‐event meta‐analysis indicated a higher risk of 5‐year all‐cause mortality in patients with classical and paradoxical LFLG AS compared with HG AS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.92 [95% CI, 1.62–2.27] and HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.07–1.34], respectively). Multivariate meta‐analysis indicated an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with LFLG versus HG AS (classical LFLG HR, 1.94 [95% CI, 1.74–2.16]; paradoxical LFLG HR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.25–1.57]). Classical and paradoxical LFLG AS were also associated with a higher risk of heart failure hospitalization (HR, 4.12 [95% CI, 2.16–7.83]; HR, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.14–2.85], respectively) compared with HG AS. Conclusions: Classical and paradoxical LFLG AS were associated with higher all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality following TAVR compared with HG AS. Future studies are needed to determine strategies to improve outcomes following TAVR in patients with LFLG AS.