Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device Results in Immediate Improvement of Glucose Metabolism in Patients With and Without Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Several studies demonstrated improvement in diabetes mellitus (DM) following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, but the timing of these changes has not been identified. We sought to determine if favourable metabolic changes occur immediately, within the initial hospitalisation following LVAD implantation. We also wanted to see whether favourable changes in glucose metabolism occur in patients without diabetes. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of patients receiving LVADs at our institution. We collected the data on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and total daily insulin requirements before the LVAD implantation and before the discharge. Patients served as their own controls. RESULTS: We studied 70 consecutive patients, half of them diabetic. In both diabetics and non-diabetics there was a significant reduction in FBG after LVAD implantation. In diabetic patients, there was an overall reduction in insulin requirements from the average 29.2 units of insulin per day before the LVAD to 16.2 units per day (p=0.038) before discharge. Specifically, insulin requirement decreased in 16 patients by a median of 25.2 units per day (the interquartile range [IQR)]: -47.8 to -9.2), increased in 10 patients (by 7.3 units/day, IQR 0.7 to 15.3), and remained unchanged in six patients. CONCLUSIONS: Favourable metabolic changes on LVAD support occurred almost immediately, within initial hospitalisation, in diabetics and non-diabetics alike. Decline in insulin requirements should be considered when managing diabetics following LVAD implantation.

Outcomes of Lung Transplantation for Cystic Fibrosis in the Setting of Extensively Drug-Resistant Organisms.

INTRODUCTION: Since the largest study on extensively drug-resistant organisms and lung transplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis, there have been innovations and advancements in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RESEARCH QUESTION: What differences exist for patients with cystic fibrosis with a history of extensively drug-resistant infections who undergo lung transplantation despite treatment advances with antimicrobial therapy? STUDY DESIGN: Two-center, retrospective, cohort study conducted in 44 patients with cystic fibrosis chronically infected with extensively drug-resistant organisms who received a lung transplant from January 2008 through August 2016. Patients in the resistant cohort were chronically infected with pan-resistant P aeruginosa, polymyxin-sensitive only, or sensitive to 2 antibiotic classes (polymyxin plus one other); remaining patients with more susceptible P aeruginosa or no P aeruginosa remained in the control cohort. The primary outcome is a composite of patient survival, retransplantation, chronic lung allograft dysfunction, and acute rejection 12 months posttransplant. Categorical variables were analyzed using χ2 testing. The independent samples t test was utilized for continuous variables. RESULTS: There was no difference in the primary outcome (40% vs 37%, P = .831). Differences between patient survival (84% vs 95%, P = .487), the incidence of acute rejection (20% vs 33%, P = .323), and the incidence of chronic lung allograft rejection (12% vs 5%, P = .441) were not different between groups. DISCUSSION: Recipients chronically infected with an extensively resistant P aeruginosa had similar outcomes compared to those infected with more sensitive organisms.

Opportunistic Pulmonary Infections in the Solid Organ Transplant Recipient: A Focus on Drug Therapy.

Immunosuppression required to prevent allograft rejection in the solid organ transplant recipient increases vulnerability to infections. Given continuous environmental exposure, the lungs are increasingly susceptible to bacterial, viral, and fungal opportunistic infections. Drug therapy options for the treatment of opportunistic pulmonary infections are used infrequently. These medications are often classified as high risk with specific administration instructions, as well as a multitude of toxicities. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss select pulmonary opportunistic infections and their associated drug therapies.