Long-term predictors of morbidity and mortality in patients following LVAD replacement.

BACKGROUND: As heart transplant guidelines evolve, the clinical indication for 73% of durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implants is now destination therapy. Although completely magnetically levitated LVAD devices have demonstrated improved durability relative to previous models, LVAD replacement procedures are still required for a variety of indications. Thus, the population of patients with a replaced LVAD is growing. There is a paucity of data regarding the outcomes and risk factors for those patients receiving first-time LVAD replacements. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of all consecutive patients between 2006 and 2020 that received a first-time LVAD replacement at a single institution. Preoperative clinical and laboratory variables were collected retrospectively. The primary endpoint was death or need for an additional LVAD replacement. Data were subjected to Kaplan-Meier, univariate, and multivariate Cox hazard ratio analyses. RESULTS: In total, 152 patients were included in the study, of which 101 experienced the primary endpoint. On multivariate analysis, patients receiving HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVADs as the replacement device showed superior outcomes (HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.065-0.35, p < 0.0001). Independent risk factors for death or need for additional replacement included preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (HR 4.44, 95% CI 1.87-14.45, and p = 0.00042), increased number of sternotomies (HR 5.20, 95% CI 1.87-14.45, and p = 0.0016), and preoperative mechanical ventilation (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.01-3.86, and p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Replacement with HM3 showed superior outcomes compared to all other pump types when controlling for both initial pump type and other independent predictors of death or LVAD replacement. Preoperative ECMO, mechanical ventilation, and multiple sternotomies also increased the odds for death or the need for subsequent replacement.

Comparative Analysis of TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) and Surgical Valve Replacement for Low-Risk Patients.

"Aortic stenosis" (AS) refers to a cardiac condition in which the aortic valve narrows, creating an obstruction that hinders the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the aorta. This contraction of the arteries influences normal blood circulation, leading to elevated pressure within the left ventricle and potentially culminating in heart failure. The management of AS typically involves two primary treatments, i.e. "surgical aortic valve replacement" (SAVR) and "transcatheter aortic valve replacement" (TAVR). In both cases, the goal is to replace a dysfunctional aortic valve with a functional substitute. Presently, TAVR has gained much preference over SAVR in clinical practice. However, there is a dearth of comprehensive research directly comparing the real-world outcomes of TAVR and SAVR. In recent years, TAVR has emerged as an attractive alternative to SAVR, yet studies that provide a detailed comparison of their real-world solutions are limited. This review article assesses the mortality of patients who underwent TAVR vis-a-vis patients who underwent SAVR.

Progression of aortic valve insufficiency during centrifugal versus axial flow left ventricular assist device support.

OBJECTIVES: Long-term left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support can cause accelerated progression of aortic insufficiency (AI). The MOMENTUM trial has led to increased use of the HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVAD, due to greater hemocompatibility. However, the differential effect on the rate of progression of AI during HM3 support versus HeartMate 2 (HM2) has not been extensively studied. This analysis compares the rates of progression to moderate or severe AI (MSAI) comparing a cohort of patients supported with the HM2 versus HM3. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all consecutive patients implanted with HM2 or HM3 between May 2005 and June 2020. Follow-up time was limited to the first 6 years after LVAD implantation. Demographics and 4005 echocardiograms were assessed for 536 HM2 and 300 HM3 patients. The primary end point was progression to MSAI. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression and landmark analyses were performed. RESULTS: Progression to MSAI was greater in the HM2 (17%) versus HM3 (9.9%) cohort. On the univariable analysis, the hazard ratio for HM3 was 0.581 (95% confidence interval 0.370-0.909, P = 0.02) whereas on multivariable analysis hazard ratio was 0.624 (95% confidence interval 0.386-1.008, P = 0.0537). Preoperative AI, female sex and body surface area <2 were significantly associated with progression to MSAI. Landmark analysis suggests that LVAD type has the most significant effect on progression to MSAI between 1 and 2 years post-implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Current practice strategies achieved low rates of progression to MSAI. Preoperative AI, female sex and body surface area <2 were the most important predictors of progression to MSAI. Pump type appears to be of secondary importance.

Off-Pump Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation is the typical treatment for end-stage heart failure. Improvements in device engineering and technology, surgical experience and technique, and perioperative management have advanced the field, and short-term results approach those of heart transplantation. Further improvements may be achieved by minimizing adverse physiologic effects associated with cardiopulmonary bypass. Therefore, we have developed an off-pump implantation approach for continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices. We detail our surgical technique for off-pump implantation of the HeartWare device.

Surgery for heart failure: Treatment options and implications.

Heart failure is considered one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Over the years, etiological risk factors, diagnostic criteria, and classifications have been revised to create guide management needed to alleviate the global health burden caused by heart failure. Pharmacological treatments have progressed over time but are insufficient in reducing mortality. This leads to many patients developing advanced heart failure who will require surgical intervention often in the form of the gold standard, a heart transplant. However, the number of patients requiring a transplant far exceeds the number of donors. Other surgical inventions have been utilized, yet the rate of patients being diagnosed with heart failure is still increasing. Future developments in the surgical field of heart failure include the 77SyncCardia and atrial shunting but long-term clinical trials involving larger cohorts of patients have not yet taken place to view how effective these approaches can be.

The Man with 2 Hearts: 25 Years from Heterotopic to Orthotopic Heart Transplantation.

Substantial technological advances in mechanical circulatory support have caused a shift in the management of end-stage heart failure. From the 1970s through the 1990s, heterotopic heart transplantation was routinely performed in patients in whom orthotopic transplantation was likely to fail. Heterotopic heart transplantation is now performed less often because modern mechanical circulatory assist devices are routinely used as bridges to orthotopic transplantation; regardless, the operation has helped numerous patients who would not otherwise have received adequate allografts. We describe the case of a man with idiopathic nonischemic cardiomyopathy who, at age 17, was given an ABO- and size-matched heterotopic allograft that was a complete human leukocyte antigen mismatch. The graft functioned normally for 20 years until the patient had a myocardial infarction that necessitated placement of a coronary artery stent. Subsequent treatments involved many interventions, including insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump, medical therapy for heart failure, implantation of a total artificial heart, and, ultimately, orthotopic transplantation. To our knowledge, our patient is the longest surviving recipient of a heterotopic heart transplant, with a remarkable 25-year graft survival despite poor histocompatibility and an almost complete lack of native heart function. The strategies used for his treatment make him a living case study that can add valuable information to the history of cardiac support.

Vasoresponsiveness in patients with heart failure (VASOR): protocol for a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Vasoplegia is a severe complication which may occur after cardiac surgery, particularly in patients with heart failure. It is a result of activation of vasodilator pathways, inactivation of vasoconstrictor pathways and the resistance to vasopressors. However, the precise etiology remains unclear. The aim of the Vasoresponsiveness in patients with heart failure (VASOR) study is to objectify and characterize the altered vasoresponsiveness in patients with heart failure, before, during and after heart failure surgery and to identify the etiological factors involved. METHODS: This is a prospective, observational study conducted at Leiden University Medical Center. Patients with and patients without heart failure undergoing cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass are enrolled. The study is divided in two inclusion phases. During phase 1, 18 patients with and 18 patients without heart failure are enrolled. The vascular reactivity in response to a vasoconstrictor (phenylephrine) and a vasodilator (nitroglycerin) is assessed in vivo on different timepoints. The response to phenylephrine is assessed on t1 (before induction), t2 (before induction, after start of cardiotropic drugs and/or vasopressors), t3 (after induction), t4 (15 min after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass) and t5 (1 day post-operatively). The response to nitroglycerin is assessed on t1 and t5. Furthermore, a sample of pre-pericardial fat tissue, containing resistance arteries, is collected intraoperatively. The ex vivo vascular reactivity is assessed by constructing concentrations response curves to various vasoactive substances using isolated resistance arteries. Next, expression of signaling proteins and receptors is assessed using immunohistochemistry and mRNA analysis. Furthermore, the groups are compared with respect to levels of organic compounds that can influence the cardiovascular system (e.g. copeptin, (nor)epinephrine, ANP, BNP, NTproBNP, angiotensin II, cortisol, aldosterone, renin and VMA levels). During inclusion phase 2, only the ex vivo vascular reactivity test is performed in patients with (N = 12) and without heart failure (N = 12). DISCUSSION: Understanding the difference in vascular responsiveness between patients with and without heart failure in detail, might yield therapeutic options or development of preventive strategies for vasoplegia, leading to safer surgical interventions and improvement in outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Netherlands Trial Register (NTR), NTR5647. Registered 26 January 2016.

Myocardial Irritation from a Left Ventricular Assist Device Resulting in Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: Due to an increasing prevalence of heart failure but a steady rate of heart transplantation, the number of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) implanted is growing. These patients present to emergency departments (EDs) with a variety of complications from their implanted device as well as their baseline cardiomyopathy. One-third of patients will present with a dysrhythmia, the most common of which is ventricular tachycardia. CASE REPORT: A 77-year-old man with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and HeartMate II LVAD presented with sustained ventricular tachycardia and 43 automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) discharges. Due to left ventricular remodeling, ongoing diuresis, and positioning of his LVAD inflow cannula against his interventricular septum, a likely dysrhythmogenic foci, he quickly decompensated with sedation while in the ED. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Refractory ventricular tachycardia is a common dysrhythmia for LVAD patients and may lead to full cardiopulmonary arrest. Common strategies such as chest compressions are used only in limited scenarios, but medical management is possible. This should focus on resolution of the dysrhythmia and identification of the etiology, including possible mechanical compromise.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy as an adjunct to conventional surgical treatment for heart failure.

From March 2004 through October 2007, we prospectively evaluated the benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy as an adjunct to conventional procedures in patients who were undergoing surgery for heart failure.Twenty severely symptomatic patients (14 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 70 +/- 8 years) who displayed advanced cardiomyopathy, QRS duration > or =130 ms, or mechanical dyssynchrony, underwent isolated or combined coronary artery revascularization and mitral valve overreduction. In all patients, an epicardial lead was secured to the left ventricular wall at the end of the procedure and its extremity was brought into a subclavian pocket. In 5 patients, a resynchronization device was implanted at the time of surgery; in 8, it was implanted at a later date; the remaining 7 patients are awaiting implantation. One patient died postoperatively of low-output syndrome. There was 1 noncardiac late death. Eighteen patients were alive at a mean postoperative follow-up of 21.6 +/- 15.2 months (range, 1-43 mo). There were no subsequent hospital admissions after discharge. New York Heart Association functional class and left ventricular performance were significantly and lastingly improved when cardiac resynchronization therapy was added to the surgical procedure. Despite the limitations inherent in the small number of patients and the relatively short duration of follow-up, this study suggests that patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and left ventricular dyssynchrony in whom surgical correction is indicated may benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy using a resynchronization device connected to an epicardial lead secured to the left ventricle at the time of surgery.

Low incidence of neurologic events during long-term support with the HeartMate XVE left ventricular assist device.

Neurologic events during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support are associated with significant morbidity and death. To evaluate this problem, we analyzed neurocognitive function and the frequency and incidence of neurologic events in 21 consecutive patients who were undergoing long-term support with the HeartMate XVE LVAD (Thoratec Corporation; Pleasanton, Calif). The mean duration of LVAD support was 531 days (range, 55-1, 309 d); the cumulative support time was 11,188 days (30.7 yr). No patients received anticoagulant therapy, and most received aspirin. None experienced strokes or transient ischemic attacks. Twenty patients were discharged from the hospital; 2 were later readmitted because of transient changes in neurologic status (metabolic encephalopathy) that ultimately resolved. Neurologic function, as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Modified Rankin Score (MRS), was abnormal before LVAD implantation but normal 6 and 12 months after (mean NIHSS, 23.6 before vs 0 after; mean MRS, 0.68 before vs 0.18 after). Neurocognitive function, as evaluated by the Boston Naming Test, Trail Making Test part B, and Block Design Test, also improved during LVAD support. Together, these findings indicate that few neurologic events occur during long-term HeartMate XVE LVAD support in the absence of anticoagulation therapy. They also suggest that modifications made to the HeartMate LVAD since the REMATCH trial have resulted in fewer complications, and that better patient selection and supportive care have improved outcomes.

TandemHeart insertion via a femoral arterial GORE-TEX graft conduit in a high-risk patient.

The TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD), which provides temporary circulatory support of the left ventricle, can be used in high-risk and hemodynamically unstable patients. The easily inserted TandemHeart provides cardiac support superior to that from the use of intra-aortic balloon pumps. Herein, we discuss TandemHeart implantation via end-to-side femoral arterial grafting in a cardiac patient whose sepsis and multiorgan failure were complicated by coagulopathy and thromboembolism. A 47-year-old woman, on intra-aortic balloon and intravenous inotropic support after an acute myocardial infarction and emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, was transferred to our institution via helicopter. She developed sepsis and multiorgan failure. Her condition was further complicated by coagulopathy and a left-lower-extremity thromboembolism. After 6 weeks of aggressive pharmacologic and intermittent intra-aortic balloon treatment, the patient developed cardiogenic shock and received a TandemHeart pVAD for short-term circulatory support. A GORE-TEX access graft, sewn end-to-side to the femoral artery because of the patient's leg ischemia and very small vessels, served as a conduit for the TandemHeart's femoral arterial inflow cannula. Her difficult circulatory, anatomic, and coagulopathic status stabilized after 2 weeks of TandemHeart support, and she was bridged to the long-term MicroMed DeBakey VAD Child in anticipation of heart transplantation. The case of our patient shows that high-risk patients who have experienced cardiogenic shock with multiorgan failure and coagulopathy can benefit from the TandemHeart pVAD as a bridge to other therapeutic options, even when creative approaches to treatment and to TandemHeart insertion are required.

Tratamento cirúrgico de fístulas congênitas da artéria coronária / Surgical Treatment of Congenital Fistulae of Coronary Artery

PURPOSE--To evaluate the surgical result of the cases of congenital fistulae of the coronary artery. METHODS--Seven patients were surgically treated since January 80 until February 94. The ages ranged from 3 days to 52 years old. The diagnosis was suspected by echocardiogram and established by cardiac catheterization. RESULTS--Regarding the clinical status, 3 (42.85) patients were asymptomatic, 3 (42.85) presented congestive heart failure and 1 (14.28) precordial pain and palpitation. The fistulae, located in inferior wall of the right ventricle in 1 (14.28) patient, apex of the right ventricle in 1 (14.28), right atrium in 3 (42.85), and coronary sinus in 1 (14.28), were isolated in 4 (57.17), 1 (14.28) also had fixed subaortic stenosis, 1 (14.28) had previously undergone the ligate of the ductus arteriosus and 1 (14.28) also had aortic coarctation and ductus arteriosus. After surgical treatment, 5 (85.72) had follow up abnormalities, showing good clinical outcome; 1 (14.28), that also had aortic and subaortic stenosis, followed with minimal aortic regurgitation and poor left ventricular performance; 1 (14.28), that had aortic coarctation and ductus arteriosus, who had been operated on in unfavourable hemodynamic conditions, died 5 days after surgery. CONCLUSION--Surgical correction should be proposed as a treatment of the congenital fistulae of the coronary artery, since it is technically feasible, and has low in-hospital mortality and morbidity.

Objetivo − Relatar o resultado cirúrgico dos casos de fístulas congênitas das artérias coronárias. Métodos − De janeiro/80 a fevereiro/94, foi analisado tratamento cirúrgico em pacientes, com idades entre 3 dias e 52 anos, com diagnóstico feito através do ecocardiograma e confirmado pelo cateterismo cardíaco. Resultados − Com relação ao quadro clínico, 3 (42,85%) pacientes eram assintomáticos, 3 (42,85%) apresentavam insuficiência cardíaca congestiva e 1 (14,28%) dor precordial e palpitação. As fístulas localizadas na parede inferior do ventrículo direito (VD em 1 (14,28%) paciente, na ponta do VD em 1 (14,28%), no átrio direito em 3 (42,85%) e no seio coronário em 1 (14,28%), eram isoladas em 4 (57,17%), 1 (14,28%) tinha sido submetido à ligadura do canal arterial previamente e 1 (14,28%) tinha associada coarctação da aorta e canal arterial. Após tratamento cirúrgico, 5 (85,72%) evoluíram com pós-operatório (PO) sem intercorrências, apresentando melhora clínica; 1 (14,28%), que apresentava estenose subaórtica e aórtica associada, evoluiu com insuficiência aórtica discreta e mau desempenho do ventrículo esquerdo; 1 (14,28%), que apresentava coarctação da aorta e persistência docanal arterial associados, tendo sido operado em condições hemodinâmicas desfavoráveis, evoluiu com óbito no 5º PO. Conclusão − A correção cirúrgica deve ser propostapara tratamento das fístulas congênitas da artériacoronária pela sua facilidade técnica e baixa morbimortalidade hospitalar