Preoperative Amiodarone and Primary Graft Dysfunction in Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative amiodarone effects on postorthotopic heart transplant (OHT) outcomes remain controversial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cumulative pre-OHT amiodarone exposure on severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed adult OHT recipients between August 2012 and June 2018. Primary outcome was severe PGD in patients receiving amiodarone at 3, 6, and 12 months prior to OHT compared with those not receiving amiodarone. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, early graft failure (EGF), mortality at 3, 6, and 12 months post-OHT, and 30-day incidence of postoperative tachyarrhythmias, bradycardia, permanent pacemaker implantation, and rejection. RESULTS: Incidence of severe PGD was 12.5% in those who received amiodarone compared to 6.8% in those who did not (14 vs 6, P = 0.18). Cumulative preoperative amiodarone significantly increased the odds of severe PGD at 3 months (odds ratio [OR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001-1.06; P = 0.044) and 6 months (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.003-1.044; P = 0.024) in a multivariate logistic regression. Patients on amiodarone had significantly higher rates of postoperative bradycardia (13.4% vs 4.5%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: A trend toward increased PGD was present in patients receiving preoperative amiodarone. This finding combined with the regression showing significantly increased odds of PGD with increasing 3 and 6 month cumulative amiodarone dose is clinically concerning. Escalation of care with pacemaker implantation was required more frequently in patients on pre-OHT amiodarone.

Cardiogenic shock and severe secondary mitral regurgitation successfully treated with transcatheter edge-to-edge repair: a case report.

Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) associated with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) forebodes a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is a rapidly evolving technique for severe MR in haemodynamically stable patients. However, the safety and efficacy of TEER for severe MR in CS are not well established. Case summary: An 83-year-old male presented with dyspnoea and was hospitalized for heart failure. Chest X-ray revealed pulmonary oedema. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severely depressed ejection fraction (EF) with severe secondary MR. Right heart catheterization confirmed a low cardiac index. Diuretics and inotropes were administered. Due to persistent hypotension, we could not wean inotropes. The patient was deemed high risk for surgery by the heart team, and a decision was made to proceed with TEER with MitraClip. Under transoesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopic guidance, two MitraClips were deployed sequentially. The MR grade was reduced to two mild jets subsequently. The patient was weaned off inotropes and eventually discharged. At the 30-day follow-up, he was participating in physical activities such as golf. Discussion: Cardiogenic shock complicated by severe MR carries high mortality. With severe MR, the forward stroke volume is lower than the stated EF leading to poor organ perfusion. Inotropes and/or mechanical circulatory support devices are paramount for initial stabilization; however, they do not treat underlying MR. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with MitraClip has been shown to improve survival in CS patients with severe MR in observational studies. However, prospective trials are lacking. Our case demonstrates the utility of MitraClip to treat severe secondary MR refractory to medical therapy in a CS patient. The heart team must evaluate risks and benefits of this therapy in CS patients.

Use of a Pulmonary Artery Pressure Sensor to Manage Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic-guided management with a pulmonary artery pressure sensor (CardioMEMS) is effective in reducing heart failure hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure. This study aims to determine the feasibility and clinical utility of the CardioMEMS heart failure system to manage patients supported with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). METHODS: In this multicenter prospective study, we followed patients with HeartMate II (n=52) or HeartMate 3 (n=49) LVADs and with CardioMEMS PA Sensors and measured pulmonary artery pressure, 6-minute walk distance, quality of life (EQ-5D-5 L scores), and heart failure hospitalization rates through 6 months. Patients were stratified as responders (R) and nonresponders to reductions in pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PAD). RESULTS: There were significant reductions in PAD from baseline to 6 months in R (21.5-16.5 mm Hg; P<0.001), compared with an increase in NR (18.0-20.3; P=0.002), and there was a significant increase in 6-minute walk distance among R (266 versus 322 meters; P=0.025) compared with no change in nonresponder. Patients who maintained PAD <20 compared with PAD ≥20 mm Hg for more than half the time throughout the study (averaging 15.6 versus 23.3 mm Hg) had a statistically significant lower rate of heart failure hospitalization (12.0% versus 38.9%; P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with LVAD managed with CardioMEMS with a significant reduction in PAD at 6 months showed improvements in 6-minute walk distance. Maintaining PAD <20 mm Hg was associated with fewer heart failure hospitalizations. Hemodynamic-guided management of patients with LVAD with CardioMEMS is feasible and may result in functional and clinical benefits. Prospective evaluation of ambulatory hemodynamic management in patients with LVAD is warranted. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT03247829.

The role of a multidisciplinary heart failure clinic in optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy: HF-optimize.

BACKGROUND: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) reduces mortality and hospitalizations in adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF); however, few are receiving GDMT. National registries show as few as 1% of patients are receiving appropriate GDMT. Development of heart failure clinics achieving optimal GDMT are crucial to improve outcomes for HFrEF patients. OBJECTIVE: We developed a multidisciplinary HF-Optimize clinic aimed at improving GDMT use along with providing education, resources, and comorbidity screening for adults with HFrEF. METHODS: We targeted patients with newly diagnosed HFrEF and/or recent or multiple admissions for 6 visits over 12 weeks. We measured medication use, ejection fraction, 6-minute walk test distance, and health-related quality of life (EuroQol Visual Analog Scale) at visits 1 and 6. RESULTS: One-hundred ten patients completed all visits. Patients were a mean age of 58 (±14) years, 37% were female, and 42% were of non-White race. From visit 1 to visit 6, utilization of GDMT increased from 35.5% to 85.5% (p < 0.001) and significant improvements in ejection fraction (25.9% to 35.5%, p < 0.001), 6-minute walk distance (1032 feet to 1121.7 feet, p = 0.001), and quality of life (63.8/100 vs 70.8/100, p = 0.002). Only 2 patients (1.8%) that completed HF-Optimize had a 30-day heart failure readmission. CONCLUSION: Our multidisciplinary HF-Optimize clinic improved medication usage and clinical outcomes. Further studies are needed to validate outcomes of multidisciplinary GDMT clinics.

Pulmonary Function Testing Pre-heart Transplant Predicts Posttransplant Survival.

Although pulmonary function testing (PFT) is typically performed for heart transplant evaluation, the prognostic utility of PFTs after transplantation is unknown. We evaluated whether PFT parameters were correlated with outcomes following heart transplantation. METHODS: International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Organ Transplant Registry data were utilized. Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier method and compared via log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to evaluate univariate and multivariate predictors of survival. RESULTS: Eight hundred two patients pretransplant PFT data were available for evaluation. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) < 50% predicted (P < 0.0001), and forced vital capacity (FVC) < 50% predicted each had significantly higher mortality (P = 0.001) compared with patients with FEV1 or FVC 50%-80% or >80%. FEV1/FVC < 0.7 was not associated with increased mortality. FEV1 and FVC below 50% both predicted longer lengths of stay (P = 0.028 for FEV1 and P = 0.0075 for FVC). After adjusting for male gender, age, body mass index, smoking history, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, creatinine, albumin, and total bilirubin, FEV1 < 50% (hazard ratio, 4.91; P < 0.0001; 95% confidence interval, 2.69-8.94) and FVC < 50% (hazard ratio, 2.75; P = 0.003; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-5.4) both remained independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal pulmonary function (FEV1 or FVC below 50% of predicted) pre-heart transplantation is associated with increased mortality and longer lengths of stay posttransplant.

A Fibromuscular Dysplasia Clinical Tetrad of Coronary Artery Dissection, Cardiogenic Shock, Carotid Dissection, and Stroke.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a serious and underreported clinical entity strongly associated with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). The female predominance of FMD may predispose many women to coronary artery dissection or other similar vascular pathologies. We present a case of a young woman who presented with a clinical tetrad of spontaneous coronary artery dissection, cardiogenic shock requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, internal carotid dissections, and subacute cerebellar infarct secondary to underlying FMD. The patient's clinical course and vascular pathology are discussed. A review of the relevant literature of previously published similar cases, the incidence of spontaneous coronary artery dissection, and issues in the clinical management of spontaneous coronary artery dissection are also included.

Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Pulmonary Hypertension Group 2 With Significantly Elevated Pulmonary Vascular Resistance: A Bridge to Cure.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to left heart disease (WHO Group 2) is a known risk factor in patients with heart failure. The favourable effect of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) on pulmonary hypertension has been demonstrated before, although this effect has not been well-studied in advanced pulmonary arterial bed disease with a significant elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 258 LVAD patients in our institution. Patients with elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP>25mmHg) and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR ≥3 Wood units) were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on their baseline PVR (PVR=3-5 Wood units (WU) vs. PVR>5WU). The groups were studied for the changes in their pulmonary haemodynamics after the placement of LVAD. RESULTS: Fifty-one (51) patients were included in the study. All patients showed a significant improvement in their pulmonary haemodynamic parameters post LVAD placement. In the group with the higher PVR, mPAP dropped from a baseline of 43±7mmHg to 22±6mmHg post LVAD placement (p<0.001), while PVR dropped from 6.3±1.2 Wood units to 2.2±1.1 Wood units (p<0.001). In a subgroup of patients who underwent cardiac transplantation post LVAD (n=14), all patients maintained a normalised PVR (<3WU) one year post cardiac transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular assist devices can reverse pulmonary hypertension WHO Group 2 with significantly elevated PVR; this effect is not dependent on the baseline PVR, and is maintained up to one year post cardiac transplantation.

Do Psychosocial Factors Have Any Impact on Outcomes After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation?

Psychosocial factors have been show to impact survival and outcomes in a number of different diseases, including heart failure and patients receiving heart transplantation. With the increasing utilization of these devices, it is important to identify risk factors that could impact post-left ventricular assist device (LVAD) outcomes. This study was a single center, retrospective analysis of 238 patients who underwent implantation of a LVAD between July 27, 2004, and July 21, 2016, at The University of Nebraska Medical Center. Data collected include length of stay, number of readmission, alive status at 30 days, 180 days, and 1 year, as well as multiple psychosocial factors including history of drug abuse, history of alcohol abuse, history of noncompliance, history of anxiety, and history of depression, among others. Outcomes were calculated using univariate and multivariate analyses with SAS Version 9.4. None of the psychosocial factors assessed in this study showed statistical significance in predicting 30 day or 6 month mortality, but patients who smoked at the time of admission for LVAD implantation had higher mortality at 1 year (odds ratio 4.6, 95% confidence interval, 1.226-15.898, p = 0.011.) Patients with a diagnosis of depression had higher numbers of readmissions compared with those without depression (p = 0.048) with the number of readmissions further increased in patients with a diagnosis of both depression and anxiety (p = 0.0074). Psychosocial determinants do not appear to have a significant effect on mortality, but can result in increased risk of readmission if not adequately addressed before implantation and continually monitored postimplantation.

Depression and anxiety in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation.

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are associated with a worse prognosis in heart failure patients. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of depression and anxiety in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) candidates and assess their effect on post-LVAD outcomes. METHODS: Based on the pre-LVAD psychological assessment, the total cohort of 246 patients were divided into 4 groups: 1) no depression or anxiety (NDep&Anx group, n = 138); 2) isolated depression (Dep group, n = 42); 3) isolated anxiety (Anx group, n = 32), and 4) combined depression and anxiety (Dep&Anx group, n = 34). RESULTS: The Dep&Anx group was associated with higher prevalence of female gender (p = 0.03), higher body mass index (p = 0.03), elevated E/E' (p = 0.003), and increased Model For End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) XI score (p = 0.04) prior to LVAD as compared to the other 3 subgroups. The prevalence of other major psychiatric disorders (p = 0.03) and narcotic dependence (p = 0.004) was higher in the Dep&Anx group. Post-LVAD implantation, heart rate and filling pressures were elevated and readmission rate was higher (p = 0.001) in the Dep&Anx group. There was no difference in survival between the groups (p = 0.40, Log-Rank test). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-existing anxiety and depression was associated with worse HF pre- and post-LVAD implantation and higher readmissions rate after LVAD implantation.

Effect of diltiazem on exercise capacity after heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Sinus tachycardia (ST) is common after heart transplantation (HTx). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of diltiazem treatment during the first year after HTx on heart rate (HR), cardiac allograft function, and exercise capacity. METHODS: From the total cohort, 25 HTx recipients started diltiazem treatment 4±2 weeks after HTx and continued it for at least 1 year (diltiazem group). Each study case was matched to a control. All patients underwent hemodynamic assessment and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) at 1 year after HTx. RESULTS: HR decreased in the diltiazem group from 99±11 bpm to 94±7 bpm (P=.03) and did not change in the controls (98±11 bpm vs 100±13 bpm, P=.14). The difference between the groups at 1 year after HTx was significant (P=.04). In the diltiazem group left ventricular (LV), stroke volume and ejection fraction increased (48±16 vs 55±17 mL, P=.02, and 60%±10% vs 62%±12% P=.03, respectively) but did not differ from controls. E/E' decreased (10.7±2.7 vs 7.3±1.9, P=.003) while cardiac index was higher (3.5±0.8 vs 3.1±0.5; P=.05) in the diltiazem group at 1-year follow-up. The absolute peak VO2 (21±4 vs 18±6 mL/kg/min; P=.05) and normalized peak VO2 (73%±17% vs 58%±14%; P=.004) were significantly higher in the diltiazem group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that diltiazem treatment reduces ST, may improve cardiac allograft function and exercise tolerance during the first year after HTx.

Inhaled Milrinone After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Proven strategies to reduce right ventricular (RV) dysfunction after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation are lacking. We sought to evaluate the tolerability, feasibility, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of inhaled milrinone (iMil) delivery after CF-LVAD implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively evaluated fixed-dose nebulized iMil delivered into a ventilator circuit for 24 hours in 10 postoperative CF-LVAD (Heartmate-II) patients. Tolerability (arrhythmias, hypotension, and hypersensitivity reaction), efficacy (hemodynamics), pharmacokinetics (plasma milrinone levels), and cost data were collected.Mean age was 56 ± 9 years, 90% were male, and mean INTERMACS profile was 2.5 ± 0.8. No new atrial arrhythmia events occurred, although 3 (30%) ventricular tachycardia (1 nonsustained, 2 sustained) events occurred. Sustained hypotension, drug hypersensitivity, death, or need for right ventricular assist device were not observed. Invasive mean pulmonary arterial pressure from baseline to during iMil therapy was improved (P = .017). Mean plasma milrinone levels (ng/mL) at baseline, and 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours were 74.2 ± 35.4, 111.3 ± 70.9, 135.9 ± 41.5, 205.0 ± 86.7, 176.8 ± 61.3 187.6 ± 105.5, respectively. Reduced institutional cost was observed when iMil was compared with nitric oxide therapy over 24 hours ($165.29 vs $1,944.00, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: iMil delivery after CF-LVAD implantation was well tolerated, feasible, and demonstrated favorable hemodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and cost profiles. iMil therapy warrants further study in larger clinical trials.