Robert J.M. Klautz

Bio: Robert J.M. Klautz is an academic researcher from Leiden University Medical Center. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mitral valve & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 32, co-authored 193 publications receiving 8073 citations. Previous affiliations of Robert J.M. Klautz include Leiden University & University of California, San Francisco.

Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation

Abstract: Guidelines summarize and evaluate all currently available evidence on a particular issue with the aim of assisting physicians in selecting the best management strategy for an individual patient suffering from a given condition, taking into account the impact on outcome, as well as the risk–benefit ratio of particular diagnostic or therapeutic means. Guidelines are no substitutes for textbooks. The legal implications of medical guidelines have been discussed previously. A large number of Guidelines have been issued in recent years by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) as well as by other societies and organizations. Because of the impact on clinical practice, quality criteria for development of guidelines have been established in order to make all decisions transparent to the user. The recommendations for formulating and issuing ESC Guidelines can be found on the ESC Web Site (http://www.escardio.org/knowledge/guidelines/rules). In brief, experts in the field are selected and undertake a comprehensive review of the published evidence for management and/or prevention of a given condition. A critical evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is performed, including assessment of the risk–benefit ratio. Estimates of expected health outcomes for larger societies are included, where data exist. The level of evidence and the strength of recommendation of particular treatment options are weighed and graded according to pre-defined scales, as outlined in Tables 1 and 2 . View this table: Table 1 Classes of recommendations View this table: Table 2 Levels of evidence The experts of the writing panels have provided disclosure statements of all relationships they may have that might be perceived as real or potential sources of conflicts of interest. These disclosure forms are kept on file at the European Heart House, headquarters of the ESC. Any changes in conflict of interest that arise during the writing period must be notified to the ESC. The Task Force report received its entire financial support from …

Restrictive Annuloplasty and Coronary Revascularization in Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation Results in Reverse Left Ventricular Remodeling

Abstract: Background-Data on combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and restrictive annuloplasty in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy are scarce, and the effect on reverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling is unknown. Methods and Results-51 patients with ischemie LV dysfunction (LV ejection fraction 31±8%) and severe mitral regurgitation (grade 3 to 4+) underwent CABG and restrictive annuloplasty with stringent downsizing of the mitral annulus (by 2 sizes, Physio-ring, mean size 28±2). Serial transthoracic echocardiographic studies were performed (before surgery and within 3 months and 1.5 years after surgery) to assess mitral regurgitation, transmitral gradient, leaflet coaptation, and left atrial and LV reverse remodeling. Clinical follow-up (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class, survival, events) was assessed at 2-year follow-up. Early operative mortality was 5.6%; at 2-year follow-up, all patients were free of endocarditis and thromboembolism, and 1 needed re-operation for recurrent mitral regurgitation; 2-year survival was 84%. NYHA class improved from 3.4±0.8 to 1.3±0.4 (P<0.01), with all patients in class I/II. Intraoperative transesophageal echo showed minimal (grade 1+) mitral regurgitation in 8 patients and none in 43, without stenosis. Leaflet coaptation was 0.8±0.2 cm. These values remained unchanged; all patients had no or minimal (grade 1+) mitral regurgitation at 2-year follow-up. LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions decreased from 51±10 to 43±12 mm (P<0.001) and from 64±8 to 58±11 mm (P<0.001). Left atrial dimension decreased from 53±8 to 47±7 mm (P<0.001). Conclusion-Excellent results of combined restrictive annuloplasty and CABG were obtained. Residual mitral regurgitation was absent/minimal at 2-year follow-up, associated with a significant reduction in left atrial dimension and LV reverse remodeling.

Strain analysis in patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction undergoing surgical valve replacement

Abstract: Aims To evaluate myocardial multidirectional strain and strain rate (S-and-SR) in severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), using two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain imaging (2D-STI). The long-term effect of aortic valve replacement (AVR) on S-and-SR was also evaluated. Methods and results Changes in LV radial, circumferential, and longitudinal S-and-SR were evaluated in 73 severe AS patients (65 ± 13 years; aortic valve area 0.8 ± 0.2 cm2) with preserved LVEF (61 ± 11%), before and 17 months after AVR. Strain and strain rate data were compared with data from 40 controls (20 healthy individuals and 20 patients with LV hypertrophy) matched by age, gender, body surface area, and LVEF. Compared with controls, severe AS patients had significantly decreased values of LV S-and-SR in the radial (33.1 ± 14.8%, P = 0.2; 1.7 ± 0.5 s−1, P = 0.003), circumferential (−15.2 ± 5.0%, P = 0.001; −0.9 ± 0.3 s−1, P < 0.0001), and longitudinal (−14.6 ± 4.1%, P < 0.0001; −0.8 ± 0.2 s−1, P < 0.0001) directions. At 17 months after AVR, LV S-and-SR significantly improved in all the three directions, whereas LVEF remained unchanged (60 ± 12%, P = 0.7). Conclusion In severe AS patients, impaired LV S-and-SR existed although LVEF was preserved. After AVR, a significant S-and-SR improvement in all the three directions was observed. These subtle changes in LV contractility can be detected by 2D-STI.

Preoperative left ventricular dimensions predict reverse remodeling following restrictive mitral annuloplasty in ischemic mitral regurgitation

Abstract: Objective: Ischemic mitral regurgitation can be treated with a restrictive mitral annuloplasty, with or without coronary revascularization. In this study, the extent of reverse remodeling of the left ventricle following this strategy is assessed, as well as the factors that influence it. Methods: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation and a mean ejection fraction of 32G10% underwent restrictive mitral annuloplasty (downsizing by two ring sizes, median ring size 26), with additional coronary revascularization in 75 patients. All underwent transthoracic echocardiography 18 months after surgery to assess residual mitral regurgitation, mitral valve gradient and left ventricular endsystolic and end-diastolic dimensions. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors for reverse remodeling, defined as a 10% reduction in left ventricular dimension. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis was used to identify cut-off values for preoperative left ventricular dimensions in predicting reverse remodeling. Results: Early mortality was 8.0% (seven patients, three non-cardiac), late mortality was 7.5% (six patients, four non-cardiac). There were two reoperations (redo annuloplasty), and four readmissions for heart failure. At 29 months follow-up, NYHA class improved from 3.0G0.9 to 1.3G0.5 (P!0.01). Mitral regurgitation grade decreased from 3.1G0.5 to 0.6G0.6 at 18 months, left ventricular end-systolic dimension decreased from 52G 8t o 44G11 mm (P!0.01), and end-diastolic dimension from 64G 8t o 58G10 mm (P!0.01). Multivariate analysis identified preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic dimension as the single best factor in predicting occurrence of reverse remodeling. For end-systolic dimension, 51 mm was the optimal cut-off value to predict reverse remodeling (specificity and sensitivity 81%, area under curve 0.85); for end-diastolic dimension, the cut-off value was 65 mm (specificity and sensitivity 89%, area under curve 0.92). Conclusions: Stringent restrictive mitral annuloplasty with or without revascularization provides excellent clinical results with acceptable mortality. At 18 months follow-up, there is no significant residual mitral regurgitation. Reverse remodeling occurs in the majority of patients, but is limited by preoperative left ventricular dimensions. In patients with a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension exceeding 65 mm, additional surgical procedures are necessary to try and obtain reverse remodeling in this subgroup. q 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recommendations for cardiac chamber quantification by echocardiography in adults: an update from the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.

Abstract: The rapid technological developments of the past decade and the changes in echocardiographic practice brought about by these developments have resulted in the need for updated recommendations to the previously published guidelines for cardiac chamber quantification, which was the goal of the joint writing group assembled by the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. This document provides updated normal values for all four cardiac chambers, including three-dimensional echocardiography and myocardial deformation, when possible, on the basis of considerably larger numbers of normal subjects, compiled from multiple databases. In addition, this document attempts to eliminate several minor discrepancies that existed between previously published guidelines.

ESC Guidelines for the Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients Presenting With ST-Segment Elevation

Abstract: ACE : angiotensin-converting enzyme ACS : acute coronary syndrome ADP : adenosine diphosphate AF : atrial fibrillation AMI : acute myocardial infarction AV : atrioventricular AIDA-4 : Abciximab Intracoronary vs. intravenously Drug Application APACHE II : Acute Physiology Aand Chronic

2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society

Abstract: Jeffrey L. Anderson, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair Jonathan L. Halperin, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair-Elect Nancy M. Albert, PhD, RN, FAHA Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA Ralph G. Brindis, MD, MPH, MACC Mark A. Creager, MD, FACC, FAHA[#][1] Lesley H. Curtis, PhD, FAHA David DeMets, PhD[#][1] Robert A

2016 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure

Abstract: ACC/AHA : American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association ACCF/AHA : American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association ACE : angiotensin-converting enzyme ACEI : angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ACS : acute coronary syndrome AF : atrial fibrillation

ESC Guidelines for the Diagnosis And Treatment of Acute And Chronic Heart Failure 2008

Abstract: Authors/Task Force Members: John J.V. McMurray (Chairperson) (UK)*, Stamatis Adamopoulos (Greece), Stefan D. Anker (Germany), Angelo Auricchio (Switzerland), Michael Böhm (Germany), Kenneth Dickstein (Norway), Volkmar Falk (Switzerland), Gerasimos Filippatos (Greece), Cândida Fonseca (Portugal), Miguel Angel Gomez-Sanchez (Spain), Tiny Jaarsma (Sweden), Lars Køber (Denmark), Gregory Y.H. Lip (UK), Aldo Pietro Maggioni (Italy), Alexander Parkhomenko (Ukraine), Burkert M. Pieske (Austria), Bogdan A. Popescu (Romania), Per K. Rønnevik (Norway), Frans H. Rutten (The Netherlands), Juerg Schwitter (Switzerland), Petar Seferovic (Serbia), Janina Stepinska (Poland), Pedro T. Trindade (Switzerland), Adriaan A. Voors (The Netherlands), Faiez Zannad (France), Andreas Zeiher (Germany).