Association between Impella device support and elevated rates of gout flares: a retrospective propensity-matched study.

BACKGROUND: Impella is an advanced ventricular assist device frequently used as a bridge to heart transplantation. The association of Impella with increased rates of gout flares has not been studied. Our primary aim is to determine the rates of gout flares in patients on Impella support. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study was conducted between January 2017 and September 2022 involving all patients who underwent heart transplantation. The cohort was divided into two groups based on Impella support for statistical analysis. In patients receiving Impella support, outcome measures were compared based on the development of gout flares. 1:1 nearest neighbor propensity match, as well as inverse propensity of treatment weighted analyses, were performed to explore the causal relationship between impella use and gout flare in our study population. RESULTS: Our analysis included 213 patients, among which 42 (19.71%) patients were supported by Impella. Impella and non-Impella groups had similar age, race, and BMI, but more males were in the Impella group. Gout and chronic kidney disease were more prevalent in Impella-supported patients, while coronary artery disease was less common. The prevalence of gout flare was significantly higher in Impella patients (30.9% vs. 5.3%). 42 Impella-supported patients were matched with 42 patients from the non-impella group upon performing a 1:1 propensity matching. Impella-supported patients were noted to have a significantly higher risk of gout flare (30.9% vs. 7.1%, SMD = 0.636), despite no significant difference in pre-existing gout history and use of anti-gout medications. Impella use was associated with a significantly increased risk of gout flare in unadjusted (OR 8.07), propensity-matched (OR 5.83), and the inverse propensity of treatment-weighted analysis (OR 4.21). CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to identify the potential association between Impella support and increased rates of gout flares in hospitalized patients. Future studies are required to confirm this association and further elucidate the biological pathways. It is imperative to consider introducing appropriate measures to prevent and promptly manage gout flares in Impella-supported patients.

Intraoperative vascular air embolism and intracardiac thrombosis complicating liver transplantation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intracardiac thrombus and vascular air embolism represent rare complications in the context of orthotopic liver transplantation. While isolated reports exist for intracardiac thrombus and vascular air embolism during orthotopic liver transplantation, this report presents the first documentation of their simultaneous occurrence in this surgical setting. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report outlines the clinical course of a 60-year-old white female patient with end-stage liver disease complicated by portal hypertension, ascites, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient underwent orthotopic liver transplantation and encountered concurrent intraoperative complications involving intracardiac thrombus and vascular air embolism. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed the presence of air in the left ventricle and a thrombus in the right atrium and ventricle. Successful management ensued, incorporating hemodynamic support, anticoagulation, and thrombolytic therapy, culminating in the patient's discharge after a week. CONCLUSIONS: This report highlights the potential for simultaneous intraoperative complications during orthotopic liver transplantation, manifesting at any phase of the surgery. It underscores the critical importance of vigilant monitoring throughout orthotopic liver transplantation to promptly identify and effectively address these rare yet potentially catastrophic complications.

Respiración de Cheyne-Stokes en una adolescente con insuficiencia cardíaca secundaria a miocardiopatía dilatada que requirió trasplante cardíaco / Cheyne-Stokes respiration in an adolescent with heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy requiring heart transplantation

La respiración de Cheyne-Stokes es una variante cíclica o tipo de apnea central del sueño poco frecuente en la población pediátrica. Se describe a una paciente de 12 años con insuficiencia cardíaca grave relacionada con miocardiopatía dilatada que demostró trastornos del sueño con características de respiración de Cheyne-Stokes, que se resolvieron completamente después del trasplante cardíaco.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a cyclic variant or type of central sleep apnea rare in pediatric population. We describe a 12-year-old female patient with severe heart failure related to dilated cardiomyopathy who demonstrated sleep disorders with Cheyne-Stokes breathing features, which completely resolved following cardiac transplantation.

[Cheyne-Stokes respiration in an adolescent with heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy requiring heart transplantation]. / Respiración de Cheyne-Stokes en una adolescente con insuficiencia cardíaca secundaria a miocardiopatía dilatada que requirió trasplante cardíaco.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a cyclic variant or type of central sleep apnea rare in pediatric population. We describe a 12-yearold female patient with severe heart failure related to dilated cardiomyopathy who demonstrated sleep disorders with Cheyne-Stokes breathing features, which completely resolved following cardiac transplantation.

La respiración de Cheyne-Stokes es una variante cíclica o tipo de apnea central del sueño poco frecuente en la población pediátrica. Se describe a una paciente de 12 años con insuficiencia cardíaca grave relacionada con miocardiopatía dilatada que demostró trastornos del sueño con características de respiración de Cheyne-Stokes, que se resolvieron completamente después del trasplante cardíaco.

External validation of the paediatric logistic organ dysfunction score.

OBJECTIVE: External validation of the paediatric logistic organ dysfunction (PELOD) score in two paediatric intensive care units (PICU) in South America. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study including all PICU admissions from July 2003 to December 2004 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and from January 2004 to December 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The data collected included demographic variables, diagnosis, need for mechanical ventilation, length of PICU stay and mortality, and the 12 variables in the PELOD score. For each PELOD score variable, the worst daily value and the worst value of the whole PICU stay were used for the daily PELOD (dPELOD) and PELOD scores, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 1,476 admissions (51.3% from Argentina and 48.7% from Brazil) were analysed. Observed and predicted mortality were, respectively, 4.7% and 6.6%, with a standardized mortality ratio of 0.72. The score showed excellent discrimination capacity, with an area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.93 (0.88-0.98). The dPELOD score on days 1-5 also showed good discrimination capacities, with areas under the ROC curve >0.85. However, PELOD and dPELOD scores showed poor calibration with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (chi-square 72.3, p < 0.001). This poor calibration was explained by a deficiency in the PELOD score where it fails to identify two risk intervals; 3.1-16.2% and 40-80%. CONCLUSIONS: The PELOD score is reproducible, has excellent discrimination, but over-predicts mortality and has poor calibration. Although the lack of calibration may not invalidate the score, the PELOD score is a discontinuous variable and we advise careful consideration when using it as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials.