Use of ventricular assist device as bridge to simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation in patients with cardiac and renal failure.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation as a bridge to cardiac transplantation is an effective treatment option for end-stage heart failure. Renal dysfunction is not uncommon but is considered to be a poor prognostic factor. We present our experience with 6 patients who had combined heart and kidney transplantation (HKT) after VAD implantation for advanced cardiac and renal failure. METHODS: Of 74 patients who underwent VAD implantation as a bridge to transplant from May 2001 to September 2009, 28 patients developed renal failure, and of these, 6 (5 male, 1 female, ages 40-64 years) had HKT. All required hemodialysis because of renal failure before HKT. Immunosuppression consisted of anti-thymocyte globulin followed by triple drug therapy consisting of calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate, and corticosteroids. RESULTS: Of the 6 HKT patients, 5 (83%) were alive without hemodialysis at 1 and 2 years; of the 22 patients with renal failure after VAD implantation without subsequent transplant, 1- and 2-year survivals were zero. Interval from VAD implantation to HKT ranged from 36 to 366 days (133 ± 127 days). At 6 months after HKT (100% alive), left ventricular ejection fraction was 60.2 ± 5.8% and serum creatinine 1.1 ± 0.2 mg/dL. Three HKT patients required temporary hemodialysis after surgery. Endomyocardial biopsy showed absence of ISHLT grade 2R-3A or greater cellular rejection, and none showed evidence of definite antibody-mediated rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our initial experience, simultaneous HKT is a safe treatment option with excellent outcomes for patients with advanced heart failure and persistent renal dysfunction after VAD implantation.

Successful combined heart-bilateral lung-kidney transplantation from a same donor to treat severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with secondary pulmonary hypertension and renal failure: case report and review of the literature.

This study describes the first reported case of a combined heart-lung-kidney transplantation. Our patient suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy due to long-standing hypertension with Dana Point Classification Group 2 pulmonary hypertension from the underlying cardiac disease, along with renal failure necessitating renal replacement therapy. Twenty months after the transplant procedure, she has stable pulmonary and renal function, plus has resumed a normal daily life with improving exercise tolerance. We propose that a combined heart-lung-kidney transplantation may be an acceptable therapeutic option for carefully selected patients with advanced, concomitant cardiac, pulmonary, and kidney disease.

Amiodarone-induced QT prolongation in a newly transplanted heart associated with recurrent ventricular fibrillation.

Anti-arrhythmic drugs such as amiodarone have the potential to prolong QT intervals, which can result in torsades de point arrhythmia. It is unknown whether amiodarone, given to a recipient prior to cardiac transplantation, can cause arrhythmia in a newly transplanted donor heart. We report on a case of a 71-year-old male patient who had received intravenous and oral amiodarone prior to transplantation, which was associated with QT prolongation in the transplanted heart after re-exposure to the drug during subsequent episodes of ventricular fibrillation. An ICD was implanted, which has not been described that soon after cardiac transplantation. Amiodarone, given to a recipient, might cause QT prolongation in a donor heart after transplantation, possibly due to its long half-life and increased bioavailability caused by interaction with immunosuppressive drugs.

Management of acute right heart failure after combined heart and kidney transplantation: case report.

Combined heart and kidney transplantation is performed rarely and merits unique fluid-management considerations postoperatively. We present the case of a young man who developed acute right heart failure after combined heart and kidney transplantation and responded to hemofiltration. We believe that the postoperative management of combined heart and kidney transplant recipients should not be different from that of patients receiving a heart transplant only. Intravenous fluids should be administered judiciously, and hemofiltration should be instituted early to remove fluid and reduce preload if right heart failure develops.

A comparison of coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients on hemodialysis.

The hospital records of 22 patients on hemodialysis undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, and 19 others undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were reviewed to compare the outcomes of these procedures in this population. Evidence of previous myocardial infarction or triple vessel or left main coronary artery disease was more common in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft than those undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Perioperative mortality and complication rates following coronary artery bypass graft (4.5% and 41%, respectively) were similar to those following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (5.3% and 42%). Cardiac event-free rates at 18 months by life-table analysis following coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were 87 +/- 16% and 40 +/- 14%, respectively. Survival at 18 months were 67 +/- 17% following coronary artery bypass graft and 69 +/- 14% following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Cardiac events were observed to occur in three patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft at a median of 10 months, and in nine patients following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty at a median of 6 months. One patient required percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty after the initial coronary artery bypass graft. Seven patients required repeat percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and two patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft after initial percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Although these conclusions are limited by the retrospective nature of the study, it is concluded that coronary artery bypass graft can be performed with morbidity and mortality equivalent to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and provides better cardiac event-free rates than percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients on hemodialysis. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty does not appear to be justified in this population because of its unacceptably high restenosis and cardiac event rates.

Factors influencing limb salvage and survival after amputation and revascularization in patients with end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Critical lower-extremity ischemia in patients with end-stage renal disease is associated with high operative mortality and low rates of limb salvage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The outcomes of 102 operations for lower-extremity ischemia in 77 patients with end-stage renal disease were analyzed to determine predictors of limb salvage and operative survival. RESULTS: Patients undergoing amputation (n = 50) and revascularization (n = 52) were similar in age, cause, and duration of renal failure, and prevalence of coronary artery disease. Operative mortality was 13% in revascularized patients and 20% in amputated patients, and was caused by sepsis in 12 of the 17 deaths (71%). Limb salvage in surviving patients was 91% at 30 days and 67% at 1 year. One-year survival was 72% in both groups. Factors associated with limb loss included advanced generalized atherosclerosis, extensive tissue necrosis, failed ipsilateral bypass, and poor cardiac functional status. Overall, factors associated with mortality included failure of limb salvage procedures, hemodynamic instability, and poor cardiac functional status. CONCLUSIONS: More liberal use of primary amputation for end-stage renal disease patients with critical leg ischemia appears to be an important factor in improving both limb salvage rates and overall operative mortality.