Cardiac Diseases

This project aims to evaluate a new cardiac MRI technique called the Free-Running Framework (FRF), which could simplify and accelerate the process of acquiring cardiac images. The investigators want to verify whether this method can provide functional heart measurements comparable to those obtained with traditional methods. More specifically, the goal of the study is to compare the measurements obtained with FRF to those obtained with standard sequences, to ensure they match and that this new approach can be reliably used in clinical practice. The FRF technique works differently from standard cardiac MRI. In standard exams, patients are asked to hold their breath several times and small electrodes (ECG) are used to monitor the heartbeat during the scan. These steps are needed to get clearer images of the heart as it moves. With FRF, these steps are no longer necessary: the scan is performed while patients' breath normally and without ECG monitoring. In addition, standard MRI takes multiple 2D slices of the heart, one after another. The FRF method instead captures a 3D image of the entire heart in one go, which can improve the consistency of the exam and reduce errors when doctors analyze the images later. This is all possible because the FRF method records data continuously and then organizes the images afterward based on how participants heart and breathing were moving during the exam. This helps the imager to get clear images of the heart, even without breath-holding or ECG monitoring. This project is aimed at individuals with heart disease who require cardiac MRI exams to monitor their health status (age ≥ 18 years) and are able to clearly understand the instructions provided by the research team. The investigators have already conducted small-scale technical and feasibility studies using FRF. These studies have shown that FRF is easy to use, faster than traditional methods, and provides image quality comparable to standard imaging techniques. The investigators now wish to evaluate its use in a clinical setting. More specifically, the investigators need to verify that FRF provides the same essential diagnostic information as standard techniques, so that it can be reliably used in future patient care. A maximum of 300 participants will be included in the investigation of this MRI technique between 2026 and 2031. This is a multi-center study, conducted internationally across 18 centers. This project is being carried out in compliance with Swiss legislation. The investigators follow all internationally recognized guidelines. The competent ethics committee has reviewed and approved this project.

Respiratory muscle testing allows a quantitative assessment of inspiratory and expiratory muscles in children of any age with primary or secondary respiratory muscle impairment, in order to better understand the pathophysiology of respiratory impairment and guide therapeutic management. The use of an invasive technique (esogastric probe) makes it possible to specifically explore the diaphragm, the accessory inspiratory muscles and the expiratory muscles in order to detect dysfunction or paralysis of these muscles, and to estimate the work of breathing in order to better guide the respiratory management. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the respiratory effort in children with primary or secondary impairment of the respiratory muscles during spontaneous breathing or during mechanical ventilation.

More than one million cardiac catheterizations (CCs) are performed annually in the United States and the majority are elective. Current guidelines recommend no fasting prior to elective CC, however recent studies suggest that eating and drinking as desired prior to elective CCs involving moderate sedation is safe. This project will study the potential benefits of allowing patients to eat before elective CCs. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will receive pre-op instructions to fast, and the other group will be allowed to eat and drink as desired prior to their CC. Researchers will compare these groups with regards to patient satisfaction and respiratory complications.

This is a Phase 3, prospective, open-label, multicenter study to assess the efficacy of NH002-enhanced echocardiography in subjects with suboptimal echocardiograms to opacify the left ventricular chamber and to improve the left ventricular endocardial border delineation compared with unenhanced echocardiography. The study also aims to investigate the safety and tolerability of NH002.

This project is based on a predictive alghorithm (Multifactorial Dynamic Perfusion Index-MDPI) already published and covered by a patent. The MDPI is based on a dynamic collection of 7 different variables during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and provides a probability index for postoperative acute kidney injury. The study design is a multicenter observational prospective trial developed through 3 work packages, addressing (1) external validation of the MDPI in a series of 800 adult cardiac surgery patients collected in 2 Institutions (2) development of a novel MDPI to be applied in infants \< 20 kg undergoing cardiac surgery (200 patients) and (3) verification of of other possible outcomes that may be predicted by the MDPI. Since many of the predictive variables are modifiable by the perfusionist/anesthesiologist during CPB, it is a tool that allows therapeutic manouvres. Ultimately, the MDPI will be incorporated in a dedicated monitor to provide an on-line "flight control" during CPB. Work package 1 will be performed at Units 1 and 2; the parameters composing the MDPI will be collected using the existing CPB monitors that routinely measure the hematocrit, the oxygen delivery, the time of exposure to a pre-defined critical oxygen delivery, the mean arterial pressure, and the CPB duration. Blood lactates and transfusions will be manually inputed. The MDPI will be calculated off-line and tested for association and predictivity (discrimination and calibration) with respect to postoperative AKI defined according to the K-DIGO classification. Workpackage 2 is dedicated to infants, with the purpose of developing an MDPI dedicated to low-weight infants (I-MDPI). This will be develop in Unit 1 that performs congenital heart surgery. The same variables of the MDPI will be collected, plus additional variables specific for infants (blood to prime the oxygenator, plasma for the same purpose; venous oxygen saturation, and others). The variables being independently associated with AKI will enter a logistic regression equation that will be the basis for the I-MDPI. Workpackage 3 considers that AKI is associated with a prolonged mechanical ventilation time, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital; and mortality. Therefore, the MDPI may be predictive of other postoperative complications, apart from AKI, and even of mortality. Some of the factors included in the MDPI may directly (low hematocrit) or indirectly (prolonged CPB duration, excessive hemodilution, low mean arterial pressure) affect the hemostatic system and/or trigger packed red cells transfusions. Additionally, CPB itself is a determinant of a coagulophatic state with associated postoperative bleeding which, in turns, increases the mortality. The specific aim 3 is to confirm the hypothesis that the MDPI may be predictive of one or more of this non-AKI postoperative complications and of 30-days mortality. In the same series of work package and aim 1, these complications will be collected and the MDPI tested for predictive ability of each one of these complications and 30-days mortality. At present, the MDPI can only be calculated off-line, and this greatly limits its applicability. The last step of the aim 3 is based on the involvement of software experts and partnership with companies interested in including the MDPI into their existing monitors; as such, the MDPI patent would be given under licence of the existing patent owned by the IRCCS Policlinico San Donato.

The goal of this observational study is to understand the role of health literacy in shaping the relationship between gender differences, illness identity, and self-efficacy in geriatric patients with cardiac diseases. The main question it aims to answer is: Does health literacy mediate the relationship between gender, illness identity, and self-efficacy in elderly cardiac patients? Participants with diagnosed cardiac conditions, will complete online surveys assessing their health literacy, illness identity, and self-efficacy over a one-year period. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) will be used to analyze the relationships among these variables.