Functional Status and Quality of Life 6 Months After Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy for COVID-19-Related Pulmonary Failure.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used in COVID-19-related pulmonary failure and the number of patients recovering from COVID-19 is growing. Here, we assess survival and recovery 6 months after ECMO for COVID-19. From April 2020 to September 2021, n = 60 (60.5 [51.0-65.0] years, 23.3% female) were treated with venovenous/venoarterial ECMO for COVID-19. 41.7% were weaned off ECMO, survival-to-discharge was 40.0% (n = 24). Age (63.0 [60.0-66.8] vs. 55.0 [43.8-60.0] years, p < 0.001), vasoactive support (97.2% vs . 75.0%, p = 0.013), and pre-ECMO SOFA scores (13.0 [12.0-14.8] vs. 12.0 [10.0-13.8] p = 0.036) correlated with nonsurvival. All patients aged >65 years, with histories of neoplasia, immunocompromise, chronic renal failure, or frailty died. After 6 months, 20 were alive (6-month survival 33.3%, survival conditioned on survival-to-discharge 83.3%), with follow-up in 19. 57.9% showed no relevant, 26.3% moderate, 15.8% severe deficits. Cardiopulmonary status was satisfactory (mMRC level: 84.2% ≤2). 73.7% were independent in daily life. Cognitive impairments were frequent (52.6%). 26.3% showed moderate depression, 15.8% posttraumatic stress disorder. Social and work life were considerably affected. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation thus can serve as salvage therapy in COVID-19, but advanced age, immunocompromise, histories of neoplasia, and frailty must be considered as relative contraindications. Age, vasoactive support, and SOFA scores assist discriminating in daily practice. Deficits after 6 months are substantial, and efforts need to focus on long-term recovery.

Identifying patients at risk: multi-centre comparison of HeartMate 3 and HeartWare left ventricular assist devices.

AIMS: Since the withdrawal of HeartWare (HVAD) from the global market, there is an ongoing discussion if and which patients require prophylactically exchange for a HeartMate 3 (HM3). Therefore, it is important to study outcome differences between HVAD and HM3 patients. Because centres differ in patient selection and standard of care, we performed a propensity score (PS)-based study including centres that implanted both devices and aimed to identify which HVAD patients are at highest risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed an international multi-centre study (n = 1021) including centres that implanted HVAD and HM3. PS-matching was performed using clinical variables and the implanting centre. Survival and complications were compared. As a sensitivity analysis, PS-adjusted Cox regression was performed. Landmark analysis with conditional survival >2 years was conducted to evaluate long-term survival differences. To identify which HVAD patients may benefit from a HM3 upgrade, Cox regression using pre-operative variables and their interaction with device type was performed. Survival was significantly better for HM3 patients (P < 0.01) in 458 matched patients, with a median follow-up of 23 months. Within the matched cohort, HM3 patients had a median age of 58 years, and 83% were male, 80% of the HVAD patients were male, with a median age of 59 years. PS-adjusted Cox regression confirmed a significantly better survival for HM3 patients when compared with HVAD, with a HR of 1.46 (95% confidence interval 1.14-1.85, P < 0.01). Pump thrombosis (P < 0.01) and ischaemic stroke (P < 0.01) occurred less in HM3 patients. No difference was found for haemorrhagic stroke, right heart failure, driveline infection, and major bleeding. Landmark-analysis confirmed a significant difference in conditional survival >2 years after implantation (P = 0.03). None of the pre-operative variable interactions in the Cox regression were significant. CONCLUSIONS: HM3 patients have a significantly better survival and a lower incidence of ischaemic strokes and pump thrombosis than HVAD patients. This survival difference persisted after 2 years of implantation. Additional research using post-operative variables is warranted to identify which HVAD patients need an upgrade to HM3 or expedited transplantation.

Extracorporeal life support in therapy-refractory cardiocirculatory failure: looking beyond 30 days.

OBJECTIVES: Venoarterial extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has emerged as a potentially life-saving treatment option in therapy-refractory cardiocirculatory failure, but longer-term outcome is poorly defined. Here, we present a comprehensive follow-up analysis covering all major organ systems. METHODS: From February 2012 to December 2016, 180 patients were treated with ECLS for therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. The 30-day survival was 43.9%, and 30-day survivors (n = 79) underwent follow-up analysis with the assessment of medium-term survival, quality of life, neuropsychological, cardiopulmonary and end-organ status. RESULTS: After a median of 1.9 (1.1-3.6) years (182.4 patient years), 45 of the 79 patients (57.0%) were alive, 35.4% had died and 7.6% were lost to follow-up. Follow-up survival estimates were 78.0% at 1, 61.2% at 3 and 55.1% at 5 years. NYHA class at follow-up was ≤II for 83.3%. The median creatinine was 1.1 (1.0-1.4) mg/dl, and the median bilirubin was 0.8 (0.5-1.0) mg/dl. No patient required dialysis. Overall, 94.4% were free from moderate or severe disability, although 11.1% needed care. Full re-integration into social life was reported by 58.3%, and 39.4% were working. Quality of life was favourable for mental components, but a subset showed deficits in physical aspects. While age was the only peri-implantation parameter significantly predicting medium-term survival, adverse events and functional status at discharge or 30 days were strong predictors. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates positive medium-term outcome with high rates of independence in daily life and self-care but a subset of 10-20% suffered from sustained impairments. Our results indicate that peri-implantation parameters lack predictive power but downstream morbidity and functional status at discharge or 30 days can help identify patients at risk for poor recovery.

Outcome of patients treated with extracorporeal life support in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction: 1-year result from the ECLS-Shock study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) fell short of improving myocardial recovery measured by 30 day ejection fraction in the ECLS-SHOCK trial. However, to date, no data regarding impact of ECLS on long-term outcomes exist. METHODS: In this randomized, controlled, prospective, open-label trial, 42 patients with CS complicating AMI were randomly assigned to ECLS (ECLS group, n = 21) or no ECLS (control group, n = 21). The primary endpoint was left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after 30 days. Secondary endpoints included mortality and neurological outcome after 12 months. Evaluation of neurological outcome used the modified Rankin Scale. RESULTS: The 12-month all-cause mortality was 19% in the ECLS group versus 38% in the control group (p = 0.31). Only one patient (control group) died after the initial 30 days. Three patients underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) during follow-up (one in the control and two in the ECLS group). Favorable neurological outcome (modified Rankin Score ≤ 2) was seen in 61.9% of patients in the ECLS group versus 57.1% in the control group (p = 1). CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that randomized studies with ECLS in CS patients are feasible and safe. Small numbers of included patients impede meaningful conclusions about mortality and neurological outcome. Our findings of numerical differences in mortality and survival with severe neurological impairment give an urgent call for larger multi-centric randomized trials assessing the endpoint of all-cause mortality but also considering the effects on neurological outcome measures.

Relation of Length of Survival After Orthotopic Heart Transplantation to Age of the Donor.

We aim to evaluate the impact of donor age on the outcomes in orthotropic heart transplantation recipients. The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for adult patients (age; ≥60) underwent first-time orthotropic heart transplantation between 1987 and 2019 (n = 18,447). We stratified the cohort by donor age; 1,702 patients (9.2%) received a heart from a donor age of <17 years; 11,307 patients (61.3%) from a donor age of 17 ≥, < 40; 3,525 patients (19.1%) from a donor age of 40 ≥, < 50); and 1,913 patients (10.4%) from a donor age of ≥50. There was a significant difference in the survival likelihood (p < 0.0001) based on donor's age-based categorized cohort, however, the median survival was 10.5 years in the cohort in whom the donor was <17, 10.3 years in whom the donor was 17 ≥, < 40, 9.4 years in whom the donor was 40 ≥, < 50, and 9.0 years in whom the donor was ≥ 50. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the episode of acute rejection (p = 0.19) nor primary graft failure (p = 0.24). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that patients receiving hearts from the donor age of ≥50 years old showed slight inferior survival likelihood, but appeared to be equivalent median survival.

Whole blood platelet aggregation kinetics under cardiopulmonary bypass: A pilot study.

Assessing the platelets' functional status during surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass is challenging. This study used multiple electrode impedance aggregometry (Multiplate®) to create a timeline of platelet aggregation changes as induced by cardiopulmonary bypass in antiplatelet-naive patients undergoing elective surgery for mitral valve regurgitation. We performed six consecutive measurements (T1: pre-operatively, T2: after heparinization, T3: 3 min after establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass, T4: immediately after administration of cardioplegia, T5: 5 min after administration of cardioplegia, and T6: 45 min after administration of cardioplegia). Platelet aggregation was determined after stimulation with 3.2-µg/mL collagen, 6.4-µM adenosine diphosphate, and 32-µM thrombin receptor activating peptide. Five patients were included (age: 64 ± 10 years, one female). We observed a decrease in hematocrit levels by -17.1% ± 3.7% (T1 vs T6) with a drop after establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass (T2 vs T3) and slightly decreasing platelet counts by -6.2% ± 7.7% (T1 vs T6). Immediately after establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass (T2 vs T3), we observed reduced platelet aggregation responses for stimulation with adenosine diphosphate (-19.7% ± 12.8%) and thrombin receptor activating peptide (-19.3% ± 6.3%). Interestingly, we found augmented platelet aggregation for all stimuli 45 min after administration of cardioplegia (T5 vs T6) with the strongest increase for collagen (+83.4% ± 42.8%; adenosine diphosphate: +39.0% ± 37.2%; thrombin receptor activating peptide: +34.5% ± 18.5%). Thus, after an initial drop due to hemodilution upon establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass, platelet reactivity increased over time which was not outweighed by decreasing platelet counts due to mechanical platelet destruction and absorption. These findings have implications for rational transfusion, peri-operative antiplatelet therapy, and for the management of patients on other extracorporeal support, such as extracorporeal life support or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Lung transplantation in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension-Focus on right ventricular remodelling.

OBJECTIVE: This study was meant to analyse the centre experience of the Munich Lung Transplant Group in lung transplantation of patients with severe pulmonary hypertension. Outcome data focus on survival and right heart remodelling. METHODS: All patients receiving a lung transplant between 10/2010 and 08/2016 were retrospectively analysed (n = 343). Patients were categorised into individuals with or without severe pre-operative pulmonary hypertension (PH; mPAP ≥ 35 mm Hg or mPAP ≥ 25 mm Hg with cardiac index < 2.0 L/min/m2 ). Among those, patients with severe PH secondary to lung disease (Nice Class III) were compared with patients with severe PH due to idiopathic PH (IPAH; Nice Class I). All surviving patients with severe PH were electively followed up by echocardiography. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities after lung transplantation of each group according to pre-operative mPAP values showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.14 by log-rank test). Lung transplantation in severe PH patients led to marked right ventricular remodelling as indicated by significantly increased tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (P = 0.002), decreased right ventricular end-diastolic dimensions (P = 0.001) and overall reduction in tricuspid valvular regurgitation, when compared to pre-operative assessments. CONCLUSION: Sequential bilateral lung transplantation (BLTx) in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension is a feasible treatment option in this high-risk group in experienced high-volume centres. Lung transplantation allows for resolution of secondary right heart failure in these patients.

Preemptive Extracorporeal Life Support for Surgical Treatment of Severe Constrictive Pericarditis.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis (CP) is particularly challenging because of the increased risk of right heart failure. The necessity of postoperative extracorporeal life support (ECLS) can result in mortality rates of 100%. Preemptive implantation of ECLS may improve postoperative outcomes; however, no data are currently available on its use. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the feasibility of our strategy. METHODS: Between September 2012 and June 2016, ECLS was established percutaneously through the groin vessels in 12 individually selected patients with high-risk CP immediately before pericardiectomy in the operating theater as part of the surgical strategy. Prolonged weaning was performed in the intensive care unit. Demographic characteristics, perioperative data, and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: The median patient age was 61.5 years (first quartile, third quartile: 51.3, 68.5 years), with a preoperative central venous pressure of 24 mm Hg (first quartile, third quartile: 21, 28 mm Hg). Furthermore, the pulmonary artery pressure was greater than 60 mm Hg in 50% of patients and a dip plateau sign existed in 75% before surgery. The median duration of ECLS therapy was 132 hours (first quartile, third quartile: 96, 168 hours) with a length of stay on the intensive care unit of 10 days (first quartile, third quartile: 7.0, 16.8 days). There was no intraoperative death. The cumulative 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year survival rates were 83% ± 11%, 75% ± 13%, and 75% ± 13%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: From our real-world data, preemptive use of perioperative ECLS, assigned by individual team decision in selected patients with severe CP, is a feasible and safe strategy.

Chronic Nicotine Exposure Induces Murine Aortic Remodeling and Stiffness Segmentation-Implications for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Susceptibility.

Aim: Arterial stiffness is a significant risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases, including abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Nicotine, the major active ingredient of e-cigarettes and tobacco smoke, induces acute vasomotor effects that may temporarily increase arterial stiffness. Here, we investigated the effects of long-term nicotine exposure on structural aortic stiffness. Methods: Mice (C57BL/6) were infused with nicotine for 40 days (20 mg/kg/day). Arterial stiffness of the thoracic (TS) and abdominal (AS) aortic segments was analyzed using ultrasound (PWV, pulse wave velocity) and ex vivo pressure myograph measurements. For mechanistic studies, aortic matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity as well as medial elastin architecture were analyzed. Results: Global aortic stiffness increased with nicotine. In particular, local stiffening of the abdominal segment occurred after 10 days, while thoracic aortic stiffness was only increased after 40 days, resulting in aortic stiffness segmentation. Mechanistically, nicotine exposure enhanced expression of MMP-2/-9 and elastolytic activity in both aortic segments. Elastin degradation occurred in both segments; however, basal elastin levels were higher in the thoracic aorta. Finally, MMP-inhibition significantly reduced nicotine-induced MMP activity, elastin destruction, and aortic stiffening. Conclusion: Chronic nicotine exposure induces aortic MMP expression and structural aortic damage (elastin fragmentation), irreversibly increasing aortic stiffness. This process predominantly affects the abdominal aortic segment, presumably due in part to a lower basal elastin content. This novel phenomenon may help to explain the role of nicotine as a major risk factor for AAA formation and has health implications for ECIGs and other modes of nicotine delivery.

Prolonged veno-arterial extracorporeal life support for cardiac failure.

OBJECTIVES: In intractable cardiogenic shock, extracorporeal life support frequently is the last treatment option. Outcomes of prolonged veno-arterial extracorporeal life support for cardiac failure are poorly defined. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 10 patients (4 females, age = 36 ± 16 years) who underwent prolonged extracorporeal life support (≥7 days) from December 2015 to March 2017 for cardiogenic shock. The primary endpoint was survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Etiologies included ischemic cardiomyopathy with non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (n = 1), dilated (n = 3), hypertrophic (n = 1), postpartum cardiomyopathy (n = 1), and others (n = 4). Heart failure was left or biventricular in 80.0% (left ventricular ejection fraction = 15.6 ± 5.5%). Among the 10 patients, 80.0% underwent femoral and 20.0% central cannulation, 40.0% required changes in the cannulation strategy, and 80.0% underwent left ventricular venting. No technical malfunctions occurred, but 50.0% required circuit exchanges for thrombus formation. 80.0% suffered from infections. 60.0% could be decannulated after 717 ± 830 (168-2301) h of support, and survival to hospital discharge was 40.0%. Longest follow-up available is 160 ± 175 (12-409) days after discharge, with 30.0% alive and in satisfying functional condition. CONCLUSION: Prolonged veno-arterial extracorporeal life support for cardiac failure is feasible with low technical complication rates. Survival rates are acceptable, yet inferior to short-term support. We observed a shift from initial shock-related complications to infections during prolonged support. Since recovery and thus weaning is rather unlikely after a prolonged need for extracorporeal life support, this form of support should be limited to centers offering the full spectrum of interdisciplinary cardiac care including ventricular assist device implantation and transplantation.

Aortic Arch Hybrid Repair: Stent-Bridging of the Supra-Aortic Vessel Anastomoses (SAVSTEB).

The reattachment of the supra-aortic vessels during hybrid arch repair using a branched prosthesis is time consuming and sometimes technically challenging. Here, we describe the surgical technique of bridging the end-to-end anastomoses between the graft branches and the supra-aortic vessels by self-expanding covered stents to reduce suturing time, avoid anastomotic bleeding, enhance true lumen remodeling, and improve vessel alignment to the hybrid graft.

Remote ECLS-Implantation and Transport for Retrieval of Cardiogenic Shock Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) emerges as a salvage option in therapy refractory cardiogenic shock but is limited to highly specialized tertiary care centers. Critically ill patients are often too unstable for conventional transport. Mobile ECLS programs for remote implantation and subsequent air or ground-based transport for patient retrieval could solve this dilemma and make full-spectrum advanced cardiac care available to patients in remote hospitals in whom shock otherwise might be fatal. METHODS: From December 2012 to March 2016, 40 patients underwent venoarterial ECLS implantation in remote hospitals with subsequent transport to our center and were retrospectively analyzed. The mobile ECLS team was available 24/7, implantation was performed percutaneously bedside, and compact support systems designed for transport were used. RESULTS: Twenty percent of the patients were female; the mean age was 55 ± 10 years, and the mean Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support score was 1.3 ± 0.5. Patient retrieval was accomplished via ground-based (n = 29, 72.5%, mean distance = 27.9 ± 29.7 km [range, 5.6-107.1 km]) or air (n = 11, mean distance = 62.4 ± 27.2 km [range, 38.9-116.4 km]) transport. No ECLS-related complications occurred during transport. The ECLS system could be explanted in 65.0% (n = 26) of patients, and the 30-day survival rate was 52.5% (n = 21). CONCLUSION: Remote ECLS implantation and interfacility transport on ECLS are feasible and effective. Interdisciplinary teams and full-spectrum cardiac care are essential to achieve optimal outcomes. Rapid-response ECLS networks have the potential to substantially increase the survival of cardiogenic shock patients.

Potential impact of oxygenators with venous air trap on air embolism in veno-arterial Extracorporeal Life Support.

BACKGROUND: Air embolism is a potentially fatal but underrecognized complication in Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS). Oxygenators containing venous air traps have been developed to minimize the risk of air embolism in daily care. OBJECTIVE: We reproduced air embolism as occurring via a central venous catheter in an experimental setting to test the potential of oxygenators with and without venous bubble trap (VBT) to withhold air. METHODS: An in vitro ECLS circuit was created and a central venous catheter with a 3-way stopcock and a perforated male luer cap was inserted into the inflow line. Three different oxygenators with and without VBT and their capability to withhold air were examined. After 60 seconds of stable ECLS flow, the stopcock was opened towards the atmosphere for 3 minutes. Afterwards, air accumulation within the oxygenator was determined. RESULTS: Comparison of the total air entrapment showed a significant superiority of the oxygenators with VBT (p < 0.001). All oxygenators were able to partly withhold macro air boli, however, the capacity of oxygenators with VBT was higher. Passing through the oxygenator resulted in a reduction of microbubbles in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Macro air emboli can be substantially reduced by usage of oxygenators that contain a VBT, whereas the capability to withhold microbubbles to a vast extent seems to depend on the intrinsic oxygenator's membrane.

Root Replacement for Graft Infection Using an All-Biologic Xenopericardial Conduit.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The management of graft infection following ascending aortic replacement (AAR) and/or aortic valve replacement (AVR) with destruction of the root remains a challenge. Besides technical issues, the choice of graft material is controversial. The study aim was to investigate the initial results of aortic root replacement (ARR) as redo-surgery for infection using the xenopericardial all-biologic conduit (BioIntegral) as an alternative to a homograft or prosthetic material. METHODS: Between February 2013 and January 2015, a total of 18 consecutive patients (16 males, two females; mean age 61 ± 14 years) were reoperated on for infection at a mean of 55 ± 61 months (range: 3 to 219 months) following previous AVR (n = 6), supracoronary aortic replacement (SAR, n = 2), AVR + SAR (n = 1), root replacement (n = 7), and root reconstruction (n = 2). Two patients (11%) had undergone more than one previous cardiac operation. Signs of infection were seen on computed tomography (CT) scanning in 17 patients (94%). Additional 18F-FDG PET-CT was performed in nine patients (50%). RESULTS: The cardiopulmonary bypass and crossclamp were 289 ± 77 min and 187 ± 59 min, respectively. Hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) + selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) was necessary in nine patients (50%) and concomitant procedures in 11 (61%). Postcardiotomy extracorporeal life support (ECLS) was necessary in five patients, and renal replacement therapy in eight. One patient died intraoperatively, and the overall 30-day mortality was 22% (n = 4) secondary to multi-organ failure. Risk factors for mortality were myocardial failure requiring ECLS (p = 0.02) and the need for root replacement following previous isolated AVR (p = 0.05). The mean follow up was 12 ± 5 months. Early graft reinfection occurred in one patient (6%), and another presented with pleural empyema without evidence of persisting conduit infection. Thus, freedom from graft reinfection was 94%. No case of structural valve deterioration was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic root replacement using a xenopericardial conduit in patients with graft infection is technically feasible. Hemodynamics and surgical handling are comparable to that of homografts, but the off-the-shelf availability favors this approach. Mortality was substantial but comparable to that of other series and grafts, with low reinfection rates. Long-term outcome regarding the eradication of infection and durability of the graft remains to be demonstrated.

Coding and non-coding variants in the SHOX2 gene in patients with early-onset atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia with a strong genetic component. Molecular pathways involving the homeodomain transcription factor Shox2 control the development and function of the cardiac conduction system in mouse and zebrafish. Here we report the analysis of human SHOX2 as a potential susceptibility gene for early-onset AF. To identify causal variants and define the underlying mechanisms, results from 378 patients with early-onset AF before the age of 60 years were analyzed and compared to 1870 controls or reference datasets. We identified two missense mutations (p.G81E, p.H283Q), that were predicted as damaging. Transactivation studies using SHOX2 targets and phenotypic rescue experiments in zebrafish demonstrated that the p.H283Q mutation severely affects SHOX2 pacemaker function. We also demonstrate an association between a 3'UTR variant c.*28T>C of SHOX2 and AF (p = 0.00515). Patients carrying this variant present significantly longer PR intervals. Mechanistically, this variant creates a functional binding site for hsa-miR-92b-5p. Circulating hsa-miR-92b-5p plasma levels were significantly altered in AF patients carrying the 3'UTR variant (p = 0.0095). Finally, we demonstrate significantly reduced SHOX2 expression levels in right atrial appendages of AF patients compared to patients with sinus rhythm. Together, these results suggest a genetic contribution of SHOX2 in early-onset AF.

When all else fails: extracorporeal life support in therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock.

OBJECTIVES: No guidelines for mechanical circulatory support in patients with therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock and multiorgan failure including ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) exist. To achieve immediate cardiopulmonary stabilization, we established an interdisciplinary concept with on-site percutaneous extracorporeal life support (ECLS) implantation. METHODS: From February 2012 to November 2014, 96 patients were deemed eligible for ECLS implantation. Establishing ECLS was successful in 87 patients (mean age 54 ± 13 years, 16% female, initial flow 4.4 ± 0.9 l/min). Aetiologies included acute coronary syndromes (n = 52, 60%), cardiomyopathies (n = 25, 29%) and other pathologies. Fifty-nine patients (68%) had been resuscitated, and in 27 (31%), implantation was performed during CPR; 11 patients (13%) were awake at implantation and 20 (23%) underwent implantation in the referring hospital. RESULTS: Metabolic parameters differed in non-survivors versus survivors before ECLS implantation (pH 7.15 ± 0.23 vs. 7.27 ± 0.18, P = 0.007; lactate levels 10.90 ± 6.00 mmol/l vs. 8.79 ± 5.78 mmol/l, P = 0.091) and 6 h postimplantation (pH 7.27 ± 0.11 vs. 7.37 ± 0.11, P < 0.001; lactate levels 10.19 ± 5.52 mmol/l vs. 5.52 ± 4.17 mmol/l, P < 0.001). Altogether 44 patients could be weaned, and 9 were bridged to assist device implantation and 1 to heart transplantation. The mean time of support was 6 days, and the 30-day survival rate was 47% (n = 41). CONCLUSIONS: ECLS serves as a bridge-to-decision and bridge-to-treatment device. Our interdisciplinary ECLS programme achieved acceptable survival of critically ill patients despite a substantial percentage of patients having been resuscitated and no absolute exclusion criteria. Further studies defining inclusion- and exclusion criteria might additionally improve outcome.

Immediate, Early and Late Failure after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: How to Deal with the Inoperable?

BACKGROUND: Currently, the use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is constantly increasing, whilst cardiosurgical back-up varies substantially. Besides immediate conversion to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for periprocedural complications, SAVR for TAV failure may be necessary within the early or late post-implant course. The etiology, incidence, risk-stratification, management and outcome for both scenarios are largely unclear. The study aim was to provide details of the authors' experience of SAVR after the failure of TAVI at a single institution. METHODS: Nineteen patients (14 males, five females) underwent SAVR after TAVI at the authors' institution between June 2008 and December 2015. The patients' initial EuroSCORE II was 8.54 ± 9.81. In eight cases (42%; 50% transfemoral) an immediate conversion was necessary due to paravalvular leakage and insufficiency (n = 1), valve-malpositioning (n = 1), valve dislocation (n = 3), valve-trapping in mitral chordae (n = 1), and annular rupture (n = 2). The 50% transfemoral EuroSCORE II was 19.06 ± 8.61. In 11 patients transcatheter valve failure occurred at a mean of 18 ± 17 months after TAVI (two patients with structural valve failure and one with severe paravalvular leakage, seven with prosthetic valve endocarditis, and one patient with aortic aneurysm); the mean EuroSCORE II was 13.42 ± 13.06. RESULTS: For immediate conversion, the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and aortic cross-clamp time were 104 ± 40 min and 60 ± 16 min, respectively. Concomitant procedures were necessary in two patients, one patient required hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) and one died intraoperatively. For early and late failure, the CPB and cross-clamp times were 115 ± 32 min and 82 ± 20 min, respectively. HCA was necessary in one patient, and concomitant procedures in seven patients. The 30-day survival was 63% for immediate SAVR and 100% for early and late SAVR, even though one more patient died on postoperative day 31 after immediate SAVR. Besides, the longest follow up periods were 29 ± 15 months and 19 ± 14 months for immediate and early/late failure, respectively. In both groups, one patient died from cardiovascular-related causes, and one from non-valve-related causes. CONCLUSIONS: SAVR after previous TAVI will become increasingly relevant. Due to the increasing use of TAVI in medium- or lower-risk patients, adequate strategies must be established since, in comparison to multimorbid patients, not taking action in these patients is not an option. Due to potentially high-risk patients and unique technical implications, SAVR after TAVI differs from conventional (redo) AVR. Under optimal conditions, acceptable survival rates can be achieved, but effective interdisciplinary approaches are essential.