Introduction: Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (c-POCUS) is an increasingly implemented diagnostic tool with the potential to guide clinical management. We sought to characterize and analyze the existing c-POCUS literature with a focus on the temporal trends and differences across specialties. Methods: A literature search for c-POCUS and related terms was conducted using Ovid (MEDLINE and Embase) and Web of Science databases through 2020. Eligible publications were classified by publication type and topic, author specialty, geographical region of senior author, and journal specialty. Results: The initial search produced 1761 potential publications. A strict definition of c-POCUS yielded a final total of 574 cardiac POCUS manuscripts. A yearly increase in c-POCUS publications was observed. Nearly half of publications were original research (48.8%) followed by case report or series (22.8%). Most publications had an emergency medicine senior author (37.5%), followed by cardiology (20.2%), anesthesiology (12.2%), and critical care (12.2%). The proportion authored by emergency medicine and cardiologists has decreased over time while those by anesthesiology and critical care has generally increased, particularly over the last decade. First authorship demonstrated a similar trend. Articles were published at similar numbers in emergency medicine journals (23.0%) and cardiology journals (19.9%). Conclusion: The annual number of c-POCUS publications has steadily increased over time reflecting the increased recognition and utilization of c-POCUS. This study can help inform clinicians of the current state of c-POCUS and augment the discussion surrounding barriers to continued adoption across all specialties.

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major driver of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD). The degree to which ventricular arrhythmias (VA) play a role in SCD in ESRD patients is unclear. Objective: Use cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) to clarify VA burden in ESRD patients overall and in relation to interdialytic cycle. Methods: We identified 44 patients at a single academic center with CIEDs, 22 on HD, along with 22 age- and sex-matched controls. Device interrogations from 11/13/14 – 4/8/19 were reviewed. Results: Overall, there were no differences in HD patients and controls in adjusted overall event rate (HD 9.81 x 10-5 ± 1.5 x 10-3 events/patient-hours vs control 3.71 x 10-5 ± 9.1 x 10-4 events/patient-hours, p = 0.902), or proportion of patients experiencing VA event (HD 45.4% vs control 63.6%, p = 0.226). There was no difference in ventricular pacing burden. Controls were more likely to require device therapy for VT/VF episodes (total ATP episodes 2/38 in HD vs 10/22 in controls, p < 0.01, total ICD shocks 10/38 in HD vs 17/22 in controls, p < 0.01). HD patients were most likely to experience VA within 12-hours of HD completion (p < 0.01), and the vast majority of events were NSVT. Conclusion: VA and ventricular pacing burden was similar by CIED analysis between groups. In HD patients, VA were likely to occur within the first 12 hours post-dialysis, were primarily NSVT, and were unlikely to require device therapy.

Introduction: Left and right atrial volume indices (LAVI and RAVI) are markers of cardiac remodeling. LAVI and RAVI are associated with worse outcomes in other cardiac conditions. This study aimed to determine the association of LAVI and RAVI with survival time post-cardiac arrest. Hypothesis: Atrial volumes will be associated with survival time post cardiac arrest. Methods: This was a single academic center, retrospective study of patients with a cardiac arrest event during index hospitalization from 2014-2018. LAVI was calculated using a biplane Simpson’s method, while RAVI was calculated using a single plane summation in the 4-chamber view. Patients were further stratified into either having a Vfib/pulseless VT (pVT) event or a PEA arrest/asystole event. Survival time was measured in days from event to death date. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to evaluate differences in survival time for patients based on mean LAVI and RAVI. Results: Of 305 patients studied (64 +/- 14 years, 37% female (112 out of 305)), 162 had reliable LAVI measurements with a mean of 34.1 mL/m2 (SD=15.8) and163 had reliable RAVI measurements with a mean of 25.1 mL/m2 (SD=15.5). In patients who had sustained VFib/pVT, those with reduced LAVI (p=0.045) and RAVI (p=0.041) values below the mean had significantly improved survival time. No association was found in PEA/asystole. KM plots of patient survival for both LAVI and RAVI compared to mean are presented in figures 1a and 1b. Conclusion: Among patients presenting with a Vifb/pVT arrest, increased LAVI and RAVI were associated with decreased survival time.

Background: Structural remodeling in chronic systolic heart failure (HF) is associated with neurohormonal and hemodynamic perturbations among HF patients presenting with cardiogenic shock (CS) and HF. Objectives: To test the hypothesis was that atrial remodeling marked by an increased right atrial volume index (RAVI) to left atrial volume index (LAVI) ratio is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in CS. Methods: Patients included were admitted to the intensive care unit with evidence of congestion (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >15) and cardiogenic shock (cardiac index <2.2, systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, and clinical evidence supporting CS) and had an admission echocardiogram. LAVI and RAVI were measured using the biplane disc summation method by two independent observers. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the association of RAVI-LAVI with the combined outcome of death or left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Results: Among 113 patients (mean age 59 ± 14.9 years, 29.2% female), median RAVI/LAVI was 0.84. During a median follow-up of 12 months, 43 patients died, and 65 patients had the combined outcomes of death or LVAD.Patients with RAVI/LAVI ratio above the median had a greater incidence of death or LVAD (Log-rank p=<0.001), and increasing RAVI/LAVI was significantly associated with the outcomes of death or LVAD (HR 1.71 95% CI 1.11-2.64, chi square 5.91, p=0.010) even after adjustment for patient characteristics and hemodynamic variables. Conclusion: RAVI/LAVI is an easily assessed novel echocardiographic parameter with strong associations with the survival or the need for mechanical circulatory support in patients with CS.