Suprasternal approach for insertion of Impella 5.5 into the proximal right subclavian artery.

The Impella 5.5 (Abiomed) is a percutaneous, temporary left ventricular assist device (LVAD) that serves as an important method of treatment of acute cardiogenic shock refractory to medical management. The Impella 5.5 and 5.0 are commonly inserted through the right axillary artery; however, this may be limited by inadequate vessel diameter to accommodate the Impella and inadequate vessel quality. A central approach to Impella 5.5 incision has been described in the pediatric population, particularly via the innominate artery through a suprasternal and/or neck incision, with success. As an alternative to axillary Impella placement, we propose the usage of a limited suprasternal incision for Impella 5.5 insertion in the adult population, either through the proximal right subclavian artery or the distal innominate artery. This may offer multiple advantages, such as increased vessel diameter and quality of more proximal vessels, avoidance of partial sternotomy, avoidance of a second infraclavicular wound site if the patient progresses to require LVAD or transplant, avoidance of lymphatic and nerve injury through the axillary exposure, ease of manipulation for repositioning, and patient rehabilitation. Potential limitations include difficulty due to body habitus, potential risk of stroke with the innominate approach, and wound complications. A central approach is a reasonable alternative to axillary Impella placement in patients with inadequate axillary artery caliber, defined as less than 6-7 mm diameter, poor artery quality to accommodate anastomosis, and small body habitus, allowing for ease of exposure.

Changes in heart transplant outcomes of elderly patients in the new allocation era.

OBJECTIVE: Studies demonstrate that heart transplantation can be performed safely in septuagenarians. We evaluate the outcomes of septuagenarians undergoing heart transplantation after the US heart allocation change in 2018. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing registry was used to identify heart transplant recipients aged 70 years or more between 2010 and 2021. Primary outcomes were 90-day and 1-year mortality. Kaplan-Meier, multivariable Cox proportional hazards, and accelerated failure time models were used for unadjusted and risk-adjusted analyses. RESULTS: A total of 27,403 patients underwent heart transplantation, with 1059 (3.9%) aged 70 years or more. Patients aged 70 years or more increased from 3.7% before 2018 to 4.5% after 2018 (P = .003). Patients aged 70 years or more before 2018 had comparable 90-day and 1-year survivals relative to patients aged less than 70 years (90 days: 93.8% vs 94.2%, log-rank P = .650; 1 year: 89.4% vs 91.1%, log-rank P = .130). After 2018, septuagenarians had lower 90-day and 1-year survivals (90 days: 91.4% vs 95.0%, log-rank P = .021; 1 year: 86.5% vs 90.9%, log-rank P = .018). Risk-adjusted analysis showed comparable 90-day mortality (hazard ratio, 1.29; 0.94-1.76, P = .110) but worse 1-year mortality (hazard ratio, 1.32; 1.03-1.68, P = .028) before policy change. After policy change, both 90-day and 1-year mortalities were higher (90 days: HR, 1.99; 1.23-3.22, P = .005; 1 year: hazard ratio, 1.71; 1.14-2.56, P = .010). An accelerated failure time model showed comparable 90-day (0.42; 0.16-1.44; P = .088) and 1-year (0.48; 0.18-1.26; P = .133) survival postallocation change. CONCLUSIONS: Septuagenarians comprise a greater proportion of heart transplant recipients after the allocation change, and their post-transplant outcomes relative to younger recipients have worsened.

Donor utilization in heart transplant with donation after circulatory death in the United States.

Heart transplantation using donation after circulatory death (DCD) was recently adopted in the United States. This study aimed to characterize organ yield from adult (≥18 years) DCD heart donors in the United States using the United Network for Organ Sharing registry. The registry does not identify potential donors who do not progress to circulatory death, and only those who progressed to death were included for analysis. Outcomes included organ recovery from the donor operating room and organ utilization for transplant. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of heart recovery and utilization. Among 558 DCD procurements, recovery occurred in 89.6%, and 92.5% of recovered hearts were utilized for transplant. Of 506 DCD procurements with available data, 65.0% were classified as direct procurement and perfusion and 35.0% were classified as normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). Logistic regression identified that NRP, shorter agonal time, younger donor age, and highest volume of organ procurement organizations were independently associated with increased odds for heart recovery. NRP independently predicted heart utilization after recovery. DCD heart utilization in the United States is satisfactory and consistent with international experience. NRP procurements have a higher yield for DCD heart transplantation compared with direct procurement and perfusion, which may reflect differences in donor assessment and acceptance criteria.

Outcomes of Over 1000 Heart Transplants Using Hepatitis C-Positive Donors in the Modern Era.

BACKGROUND: Advances in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment and the ongoing opioid epidemic have made HCV-positive donors increasingly available for heart transplantation (HT). This analysis reports outcomes of over 1000 HCV-positive HTs in the United States in the modern era. METHODS: The United Network of Organ Sharing registry was used to identify HTs between 2015 and 2021. Recipients were grouped by donor HCV status and by nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) positivity. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality, and secondary outcomes included 3-year mortality. A subanalysis compared HCV-positive HT outcomes between NAT-positive and NAT-negative donors. Risk adjustment was performed using Cox regression. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate survival. RESULTS: The frequency of HCV-positive HT increased from 0.12% of HTs in 2015 to 12.9% in 2021 (P < .001). Of 16,648 HTs, 1170 (7.0%) used an organ from an HCV-positive donor. Recipients of HCV-positive organs were more likely to be HCV seropositive, older, and White. Unadjusted 1- and 3-year survival rates were not significantly different between recipients of HCV-negative and HCV-positive organs. After risk adjustment HCV-positive donor status was not associated with an elevated risk for 1-year (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.71-1.19; P = .518) or 3-year mortality. Among HCV-positive HTs 772 (61.7%) were NAT positive. After risk adjustment NAT positivity did not impact 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of HCV-positive HTs has increased over 100-fold in recent years. This analysis of the US experience demonstrates that recipients of HCV-positive hearts, including those that are NAT positive, have acceptable outcomes with similar early to midterm survival as recipients of HCV-negative organs.

Devices for donor lung preservation.

INTRODUCTION: Lung transplantation is the gold standard for the treatment of end stage lung disease but is limited by donor availability. Recently, the donor pool has seen significant expansion with liberalization of donor criteria. However, extended criteria donors can require additional time to prepare for implantation, necessitating additional preservation time of donor lungs. AREAS COVERED: We present a review of current lung transplant storage strategies including new methodologies and technological advancements. The current standard, static cold storage, is a simple and cost-effective method of preserving grafts, but offers little flexibility with limited ability to mitigate ischemic-reperfusion injury, inflammation, and hypothermic tissue damage. Novel ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) devices, TransMedics OCS and XVIVO perfusion systems, extend preservation time by perfusing, and ventilating donor lungs while simultaneously allowing for evaluation of lung viability. Perfusate, preservation solutions, additives, temperature regulation, and assessment of organ damage are all critical components when evaluating the success and outcomes of these devices. EXPERT OPINION: EVLP devices are more costly and often require additional resources and personnel support compared to static cold storage, but may provide the opportunity to extend preservation time, perform functional assessment, mitigate ischemic injury, and optimize extended criteria donors.

Risk of recipient age on 1-year mortality after simultaneous heart-lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Heart-lung transplantation (HLTx) is relatively uncommon, and there is a paucity of literature to suggest an age at which older recipients may be exposed to excess risk for mortality. This analysis aimed to identify a threshold of age that predicts adverse outcomes after HLTx. METHODS: The United Network of Organ Sharing registry was used to identify adult patients undergoing HLTx from 2005 to 2021. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Threshold regression was used to identify the threshold at which age impacts 1-year mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to model survival, and Cox proportional hazards modeling was used for risk-adjustment. RESULTS: We identified 453 patients undergoing HLTx. Threshold analysis identified that the risk for 1-year mortality was significantly elevated beyond an age of 58 years, and 47 (10.38%) patients were older than this threshold. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, 1-year survival was significantly lower in patients > 58 years compared to younger recipients (64.7% vs. 82.0%, p = .007). After risk adjustment, the hazard ratio for 1-year mortality in recipients older than 58 years was 2.27 (95% confidence interval [1.21-4.28], p = .011). CONCLUSION: A threshold for recipient age of 58 years of age may avoid excess 1-year mortality after HLTx. However, patients older than this threshold demonstrate acceptable early and midterm survival, and the majority survive to 1 year. Advanced age should be considered in patient selection for HLTx, but may not be a contraindication for candidacy particularly in the absence of other risk factors.

Heart Transplantation for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Outcomes Over 3 Decades.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated trends and outcomes of patients undergoing heart transplantation for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) over the past 3 decades. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing registry was used to identify patients undergoing isolated heart transplantation between 1987 and 2020. Patients were stratified by the decade of transplantation. Overall survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and risk-adjustment was performed using Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS: A total of 76 009 heart transplantations occurred in the study period, including 20 352 female patients and 809 female patients with PPCM. The frequency of transplantation for PPCM increased over the study period (P = .015). Among female patients, PPCM was significantly associated with 1-year mortality compared with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.11-1.69; P = .004). Among patients with PPCM, Black and Hispanic heart transplant recipients had increased 1-year posttransplant mortality risk compared with White recipients. On Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, early and midterm survival was significantly worse in patients with PPCM compared with other female patients. The 5-, 10-, and 15-year survivals in patients with PPCM were 66.5%, 49.0%, and 40.2% compared with 74.3%, 56.0%, and 37.5% in female heart transplant recipients with other heart failure diagnoses, respectively (P < .001). Survival improved significantly in patients who underwent heart transplantation for PPCM in the latest decade from 2010 to 2020 compared with earlier decades (P < .001), and this improvement was most marked for Black recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent heart transplantation for PPCM have a significantly elevated risk for 1-year mortality compared with other female transplant recipients. However, survival among these patients has improved in the last decade, particularly for Black transplant recipients.

Intracellular Ca2+ Dysregulation in Coronary Smooth Muscle Is Similar in Coronary Disease of Humans and Ossabaw Miniature Swine.

Intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) dysregulation occurs in coronary smooth muscle (CSM) in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) of metabolic syndrome (MetS) swine. Our goal was to determine how CAD severity, arterial structure, and MetS risk factors associate with [Ca2+]i dysregulation in human CAD compared to changes in Ossabaw miniature swine. CSM cells were dispersed from coronary arteries of explanted hearts from transplant recipients and from lean and MetS swine with CAD. CSM [Ca2+]i elicited by Ca2+ influx and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release and sequestration was measured with fura-2. Increased [Ca2+]i signaling was associated with advanced age and a greater media area in human CAD. Decreased [Ca2+]i signaling was associated with a greater number of risk factors and a higher plaque burden in human and swine CAD. Similar [Ca2+]i dysregulation exhibited in human and Ossabaw swine CSM provides strong evidence for the translational relevance of this large animal model.

The impact of changes in renal function during waitlist time on outcomes after heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study evaluated the impact of changes in renal function during the waitlist period on posttransplant outcomes of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing registry was used to identify adult patients undergoing isolated OHT from 2010 to 2020. Patients were stratified by whether their National Kidney Foundation chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage improved, worsened, or remained unchanged between listing and transplantation. Univariate analysis and multivariable Cox regression were conducted to determine whether a change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or change in CKD stage predicted 1-year mortality after OHT. RESULTS: Of 22,746 patients, the majority of patients remained in the same CKD stage (59.6%), and the frequencies of patients progressing to improved (19.3%) and worsened (21.1%) CKD stages were similar. Temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) was associated with improved CKD stage and durable MCS with worsened CKD stage (p < .001). Post-OHT dialysis was most common in patients with worsened CKD stage (13.2%) and least common in the improved cohort (9.4%) (p < .001). Kaplan-Meier unadjusted 1-year survival rates after OHT were similar between CKD change groups (log-rank p = .197). Multivariable analysis demonstrated no risk-adjusted effect of change in eGFR (p = .113) or change in CKD stage (p = .076) on 1-year mortality after OHT. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 20% of patients improve CKD stage and 20% worsen CKD stage between listing and OHT, with the remaining 60% having unchanged CKD stage. Worsening CKD stage predicts increased likelihood of post-OHT dialysis, but CKD stage change does not predict 1-year survival following OHT.

Pulse Oximeter Derived Blood Pressure Measurement in Patients With a Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Currently, blood pressure (BP) measurement is obtained noninvasively in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) by placing a Doppler probe over the brachial or radial artery with inflation and deflation of a manual BP cuff. We hypothesized that replacing the Doppler probe with a finger-based pulse oximeter can yield BP measurements similar to the Doppler derived mean arterial pressure (MAP). We conducted a prospective study consisting of patients with contemporary continuous flow LVADs. In a small pilot phase I inpatient study, we compared direct arterial line measurements with an automated blood pressure (ABP) cuff, Doppler and pulse oximeter derived MAP. Our main phase II study included LVAD outpatients with a comparison between Doppler, ABP, and pulse oximeter derived MAP. A total of five phase I and 36 phase II patients were recruited during February-June 2014. In phase I, the average MAP measured by pulse oximeter was closer to arterial line MAP rather than Doppler (P = 0.06) or ABP (P < 0.01). In phase II, pulse oximeter MAP (96.6 mm Hg) was significantly closer to Doppler MAP (96.5 mm Hg) when compared to ABP (82.1 mm Hg) (P = 0.0001). Pulse oximeter derived blood pressure measurement may be as reliable as Doppler in patients with continuous flow LVADs.

A successful percutaneous mechanical vegetation debulking used as a bridge to surgery in acute tricuspid valve endocarditis.

Timing of surgical management of acute infective endocarditis is a major challenge, with respect to surgical complications, risks of recurrences and optimal valve repair or replacement. We present a case of a 24-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug abuse, who was referred to our center after 10 days of medical management of acute infective endocarditis. Upon arrival he was in septic shock, multi-organ failure, and mobile vegetations on the tricuspid valve with severe tricuspid regurgitation. He also had bilateral pulmonary infarcts and an ischemic stroke in the right parietal lobe. A successful percutaneous transcatheter mechanical vegetation debulking was performed followed by surgical valve replacement seven days later. This case introduces a new option in the management of right-sided endocarditis in critically ill patient, and demonstrates the technical feasibility of a debulking procedure in this setting, which led subsequently to a significant improvement in patient's condition, and he was ultimately able to undergo definitive surgery.

Left ventricular thrombus associated with arteriovenous extra corporeal membrane oxygenation.

Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has remarkably progressed over the recent years. It has become an invaluable tool in the care of adults and pediatric patients with severe cardiogenic shock. At the initiation of ECMO support, the left ventricular contractility is profoundly impaired. Inadequate right ventricular drainage and bronchial circulation can lead to left ventricular distension, with potential deleterious consequences, ranging from inadequate myocardial rest, pulmonary edema, or intracardiac clot formation. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to ensure an adequate left ventricular drainage. Here we present a case of LV thrombus developed while the patient is on central venoarterial (VA) ECMO.

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predict Ventricular Arrhythmia Post Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been shown to predict ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and sudden death in patients with heart failure. We sought to determine whether BNP levels before left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation can predict VA post LVAD implantation in advanced heart failure patients. We conducted a retrospective study consisting of patients who underwent LVAD implantation in our institution during the period of May 2009-March 2013. The study was limited to patients receiving a HeartMate II or HeartWare LVAD. Acute myocardial infarction patients were excluded. We compared between the patients who developed VA within 15 days post LVAD implantation to the patients without VA. A total of 85 patients underwent LVAD implantation during the study period. Eleven patients were excluded (five acute MI, four without BNP measurements, and two discharged earlier than 13 days post LVAD implantation). The incidence of VA was 31%, with 91% ventricular tachycardia (VT) and 9% ventricular fibrillation. BNP remained the single most powerful predictor of VA even after adjustment for other borderline significant factors in a multivariate logistic regression model (P < 0.05). BNP levels are a strong predictor of VA post LVAD implantation, surpassing previously described risk factors such as age and VT in the past.

Evaluation of Alemtuzumab Versus Basiliximab Induction: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Lung Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is a major early complication after lung transplantation (LT) and is a risk factor for chronic rejection. Induction immunosuppression has been used as a strategy to reduce early ACR. Recently, our LT program changed our primary induction protocol from basiliximab with standard maintenance immunosuppression to alemtuzumab induction with reduced dose maintenance immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to compare incidence of ACR after this change in the first 6 months after transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective, cohort review of patients 18 years or older, which received their first LT between January 2010 and September 2012. RESULTS: The primary outcome was comparison of average lung biopsy scores at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included development of grade A2 or higher rejection, infectious outcomes, overall graft and patient survival. At 6 months, the average biopsy score was significantly lower in the alemtuzumab group than the basiliximab group (0.12 ± 0.29 vs 0.74 ± 0.67; P < 0.0001) (Table 2). Grade 2 or higher rejection was significantly higher in the basiliximab group (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Alemtuzumab provided superior outcomes in regard to average biopsy score and lower incidence of grade 2 or higher rejection at 6 months. There were no differences in infectious complications or overall graft or patient survival between the 2 groups.

Identification and management of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome immediately post-heart transplantation.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a serious hematologic disorder with high mortality if left untreated. A comprehensive literature review revealed only two cases of aHUS post-heart transplantation. In both cases the disease developed after induction of calcineurin inhibitor therapy. We report a case of immediate post-heart transplantation aHUS, manifested before the induction of, and therefore not associated with, calcineurin inhibitors.

B-type natriuretic peptide-guided therapy and length of hospital stay post left ventricular assist device implantation.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)-guided therapy during the early postoperative period following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has not been well described in the literature. We conducted a retrospective cohort study consisting of consecutive patients who underwent LVAD implantation at our institution during May 2009 to March 2013. The study was limited to patients receiving HeartMate II (Thoratec) or HVAD (HeartWare) LVADs. Patients with acute myocardial infarction were excluded. We compared between patients with multiple postoperative BNP tests (BNP-guided therapy) and earlier period patients who typically had only a baseline BNP measurement (non-BNP-guided therapy). A total of 85 patients underwent LVAD implantation during the study period. Eight patients were excluded (five acute myocardial infarction, three without BNP measurements). The only differences in the baseline characteristics of BNP versus non-BNP-guided therapy included age and female gender. The postoperative length of hospital stay (LOS) in the BNP-guided therapy group was 5 days shorter when compared with the non-BNP-guided therapy group. In multivariate analysis, BNP-guided therapy remained a significant predictor of reduced LOS. The use of repeated BNP measurements during the early postoperative period was associated with a significantly lower LOS post LVAD implantation.

Recipient body mass index and age interact to impact survival after heart transplantation.

Although recipient body mass index (BMI) and age are known risk factors for mortality after heart transplantation, how they interact to influence survival is unknown. Our study utilized the UNOS registry from 1997 to 2012 to define the interaction between BMI and age and its impact on survival after heart transplantation. Recipients were stratified by BMI: underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5-24.99), overweight (25-29.99), and either moderate (30-34.99), severe (35-39.99), or very severe (≥40) obesity. Recipients were secondarily stratified based on age: 18-40 (younger recipients), 40-65 (reference group), and ≥65 (advanced age recipients). Among younger recipients, being underweight was associated with improved adjusted survival (HR 0.902; p = 0.010) while higher mortality was seen in younger overweight recipients (HR 1.260; p = 0.005). However, no differences in adjusted survival were appreciated in underweight and overweight advanced age recipients. Obesity (BMI ≥ 30) was associated with increased adjusted mortality in normal age recipients (HR 1.152; p = 0.021) and even more so with young (HR 1.576; p < 0.001) and advanced age recipients (HR 1.292; p = 0.001). These results demonstrate that BMI and age interact to impact survival as age modifies BMI-mortality curves, particularly with younger and advanced age recipients.

Surgical correction of aortic valve insufficiency after left ventricular assist device implantation.

OBJECTIVES: New-onset aortic insufficiency (AI) can be encountered after instituting mechanical circulatory support and seems more common and severe with continuous flow (CF) left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) compared with pulsatile devices. Treatment algorithms for de novo, post-LVAD AI have not been well defined. In the present report, we have described 6 patients who underwent aortic valve surgery for new-onset post-LVAD AI. METHODS: From 2005 to 2011, 271 patients underwent LVAD implantation. Of these LVADs, 225 were CF devices (203 HeartMate II devices, Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, Calif; and 22 HVAD devices, HeartWare Intl, Inc, Framingham, Mass). The patients were examined for new-onset severe AI requiring surgical intervention. RESULTS: During follow-up, 6 CF LVAD patients developed new, severe AI that was accompanied by heart failure. After medical therapy had failed, 4 patients underwent redo sternotomy for aortic valve procedures (1 bioprosthetic valve replacement, 1 Dacron patch closure, and 2 aortic valve repairs), and 2 patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve procedure, with 1 requiring revision by open surgery for aortic valve replacement. Of the 6 patients, 5 experienced significant improvement in functional capacity and symptoms. One patient died postoperatively secondary to multiorgan failure and sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of post-LVAD AI with aortic valve oversewing or leaflet repair or by bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement is effective at restoring functional capacity for CF LVAD patients who develop symptomatic, severe AI and can be performed safely with good results. Various transcatheter approaches to these difficult problems are also available and offer less invasive alternatives to conventional surgery.