Clinical Research Directory

Artificial Intelligence Versus Anesthesiologist Visual Assessment of Ejection Fraction by Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery

This prospective observational study evaluated the reliability of a general-purpose artificial intelligence application in estimating left ventricular ejection fraction from intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography images during cardiac surgery. The artificial intelligence estimates were compared with visual assessment by two independent blinded professor anesthesiologists and with preoperative transthoracic echocardiography findings. Ejection fraction measured using M-mode and the time required for each assessment were also evaluated. The study included 93 adults undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting or valve surgery. The artificial intelligence assessments were performed using pseudonymized images and were not used to guide clinical decisions or patient management.

Beta-Blockers in Takotsubo Syndrome Study

The Beta-blockers in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) (β-Tako) trial, is an academic, pragmatic, prospective, multicenter randomized clinical trial, aiming to assess the efficacy of beta-blockers (BB) in TTS patients. Two-hundred patients with TTS will be randomized (1:1) to BB (n=100) or no BB (n=100). BB with alpha or nitric oxide release activity will be used in the treatment arm. The primary endpoint will be the comparison of the wall motion score index by echocardiography at 7 days. A composite clinical endpoint (death, stroke, admission for recurrent TTS, ACS, heart failure or atrial fibrillation) at 1 year, will be assessed by an independent clinical events committee. Several sub-studies will be performed. The β-Tako trial will inform treatment decisions in this uniquely challenging clinical entity.