Recent physician strike in Israel: a health system under stress?

In 2011, a series of physician strikes in Israel followed eight months of unsuccessful negotiations with the government (Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance). Strikes by physicians may be a warning that all is not well in a health system and protestors have claimed that they signify a system failure. In contrast, others argue that strikes have been a feature of the Israeli health system from its inception and should not be a cause for alarm. This paper analyses the Israeli health system from the perspective of the strikers' demands using the World Health Organisation's six health system building blocks as a framework, including: service delivery; health workforce; information; medical products, vaccines and technologies; leadership and governance; and financing. While we recognise that the immediate causes of the 2011 strikes were concerns about salaries and working conditions, we argue that a complex set of interacting factors underlie the strikers' demands, resonating with issues relating to five of the WHO building blocks. We argue that of the five, three are most significant and limit progress with all the others: a disgruntled health workforce, many of whom believe that striking is the only way to be heard; a lack of leadership by the government in understanding and responding to physicians' concerns; and a purported information insufficiency, manifest as a lack of critique and analysis that may have prevented those at the top from making a reliable diagnosis of the system's problems. This paper argues that there are cracks within the Israeli health system but that these are not irresolvable. The Israeli health system is a relatively new and popular health system, but there are no grounds for complacency

Pseudo-discordance mimicking low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis in transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis

BACKGROUND: While the combination of a small aortic valve area (AVA) and low mean gradient is frequently labeled ‘low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis (AS)’, there are two potential causes for this finding: underestimation of mean gradient and underestimation of AVA. METHODS: In order to investigate the prevalence and causes of discordant echocardiographic findings in symptomatic patients with AS and normal left ventricular (LV) function, we evaluated 72 symptomatic patients with AS and normal LV function by comparing Doppler, invasive, computed tomography (CT) LV outflow tract (LVOT) area, and calcium score (CaSc). RESULTS: Thirty-six patients had discordant echocardiographic findings (mean gradient 30 mmHg; technical pitfalls were found in 10 patients (no reliable right parasternal Doppler in 6). LVOT area by echocardiography or CT could not differentiate between concordants and discordants nor between TD and FD (p = NS). CaSc was similar in concordants and FD (p = 0.3), and it was higher in true concordants than in TD (p = 0.005). CaSc positive predictive value for the correct diagnosis of severe AS was 95% for concordants and 93% for discordants. CONCLUSIONS: Discordant echocardiographic findings are commonly found in patients with symptomatic AS. Underestimation of the true mean gradient due to technical difficulties is an important cause of these discrepant findings. LVOT area by echocardiography or CT cannot differentiate between TD and FD. In the absence of a reliable and compete multi-window Doppler evaluation, patients should undergo CaSc assessment

Pseudo-discordance mimicking low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis in transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis

Background: While the combination of a small aortic valve area (AVA) and low mean gradient is frequently labeled ‘low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis (AS)’, there are two potential causes for this finding: underestimation of mean gradient and underestimation of AVA. Methods: In order to investigate the prevalence and causes of discordant echocardiographic findings in symptomatic patients with AS and normal left ventricular (LV) function, we evaluated 72 symptomatic patients with AS and normal LV function by comparing Doppler, invasive, computed tomography (CT) LV outflow tract (LVOT) area, and calcium score (CaSc). Results: Thirty-six patients had discordant echocardiographic findings (mean gradient < 40 mmHg, AV area ≤ 1 cm2). Of those, 19 had discordant invasive measurements (true discordant [TD]) and 17 concordant (false discordant [FD]): In 12 of the FD the mean gradient was > 30 mmHg; technical pitfalls were found in 10 patients (no reliable right parasternal Doppler in 6). LVOT area by echocardiography or CT could not differentiate between concordants and discordants nor between TD and FD (p = NS). CaSc was similar in concordants and FD (p = 0.3), and it was higher in true concordants than in TD (p = 0.005). CaSc positive predictive value for the correct diagnosis of severe AS was 95% for concordants and 93% for discordants. Conclusions: Discordant echocardiographic findings are commonly found in patients with symptomatic AS. Underestimation of the true mean gradient due to technical difficulties is an important cause of these discrepant findings. LVOT area by echocardiography or CT cannot differentiate between TD and FD. In the absence of a reliable and compete multi-window Doppler evaluation, patients should undergo CaSc assessment

Left atrial size predicts long-term outcome after balloon mitral valvuloplasty

BACKGROUND: The treatment of choice for severe rheumatic mitral stenosis is balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV). Numerous predictors of immediate and long-term procedural success have been described. The aims of this study were to describe our experience with BMV over the last decade and to evaluate predictors of long-term event-free survival. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively analyzed of patients who underwent BMV between 2009 and 2021. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, mitral valve replacement (MVR), and repeat BMV. Long-term event-free survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Logistic regression was used to create a multivariate model to assess pre-procedural predictors of the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients underwent BMV during the study period. The primary outcome occurred in 36 patients during 12-year follow-up: one (1%) patient underwent re-BMV, 28 (29%) underwent MVR, and eight (8%) died. Overall, event-free survival was 62% at 12 years. On multivariate analysis, pre-procedural left atrial volume index (LAVI) > 80 mL/m2 had a significant independent influence on event-free survival, as did previous mitral valve procedure and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure above 50 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being a relatively low-volume center, excellent short and long-term results were demonstrated, with event-free survival rates consistent with previous studies from high-volume centers. LAVI independently predicted long-term event-free survival

Left atrial size predicts long-term outcome after balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Background: The treatment of choice for severe rheumatic mitral stenosis is balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV). Numerous predictors of immediate and long-term procedural success have been described. The aims of this study were to describe our experience with BMV over the last decade and to evaluate predictors of long-term event-free survival.  Methods: Medical records were retrospectively analyzed of patients who underwent BMV between 2009 and 2021. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, mitral valve replacement (MVR), and repeat BMV. Long-term event-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier curves. Logistic regression was used to create a multivariate model to assess pre-procedural predictors of the primary outcome. Results: A total of 96 patients underwent BMV during the study period. The primary outcome occurred in 36 patients during 12-year follow-up: 1 (1%) patient underwent re-BMV, 28 (29%) had MVR, and 8 (8%) died. Overall event-free survival was 62% at 12 years. On multivariate analysis, pre-procedural left atrial volume index (LAVI) > 80 mL/m2 had a significant independent influence on event-free survival, as did previous mitral valve procedure and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure above 50 mmHg. Conclusion: Despite being a relatively low-volume center, excellent short and long-term results were demonstrated, with event-free survival rates consistent with previous studies from high-volume centers. LAVI independently predicted long-term event-free survival

Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in patients with acute decompensated heart failure due to severe mitral regurgitation

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has been established as a therapy for severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR) in stable patients, and it has recently emerged as a reasonable option for acutely ill patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TEER in hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and severe MR that was deemed to play a major role in their deterioration. METHODS: We included 31 patients who underwent emergent TEER for MR ≥ 3+ from 2012 to 2022 at Sheba Medical Center. Outcomes included procedural safety, procedural success, all-cause mortality, heart failure readmission, and functional improvement. Outcomes were evaluated at 3 months and at 1 year. Data were obtained retrospectively by chart review. RESULTS: Implantation of a TEER device was achieved in 97% of patients, and reduction in MR severity of at least two grades and final MR ≤ 2+ at discharge was achieved in 74%. No intra-procedural mortality or life-threatening complications were noted. Mortality at 30 days was 23%. No excess mortality occurred beyond 6 months, with a total mortality of 41%. At 1 year all survivors had MR ≤ 2+, all were free of heart failure hospitalizations, and 88% were at New York Heart Association class ≤ II. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve TEER for patients with ADHF and significant MR is safe, feasible, and achieves substantial reduction in MR severity. Despite high early mortality, procedural success is associated with good long-term clinical outcomes for patients surviving longer than 6 months

Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in patients with acute decompensated heart failure due to severe mitral regurgitation

Background: Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has been established as a therapy for severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR) in stable patients, and it has recently emerged as a reasonable option for acutely ill patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TEER in hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and severe MR that was deemed to play a major role in their deterioration. Methods: We included 31 patients who underwent emergent TEER for MR ≥ 3+ from 2012 to 2022 at Sheba Medical Center. Outcomes included procedural safety, procedural success, all-cause mortality, heart failure readmission, and functional improvement. Outcomes were evaluated at 3 months and at 1 year. Data were obtained retrospectively by chart review. Results: Implantation of a TEER device was achieved in 97% of patients, and reduction in MR severity of at least two grades and final MR ≤ 2+ at discharge was achieved in 74%. No intra-procedural mortality or life-threatening complications were noted. Mortality at 30 days was 23%. No excess mortality occurred beyond 6 months, with a total mortality of 41%. At 1 year all survivors had MR ≤ 2+, all were free of heart failure hospitalizations, and 88% were at New York Heart Association class ≤ II. Conclusions: Mitral valve TEER for patients with ADHF and significant MR is safe, feasible, and achieves substantial reduction in MR severity. Despite high early mortality, procedural success is associated with good long-term clinical outcomes for patients surviving longer than 6 months