Intraoperative Type I Acute Myocardial Infarction During Liver Transplant Requiring Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump: A Case Report.

We describe a complex case of liver transplant in a 70-year-old male patient with no known history of coronary artery disease, normal preoperative left ventricular function, and negative preoperative cardiac workup who developed progressive intra-operative left ventricular myocardial dysfunction secondary to class I acute myocardial infarction, ultimately requiring intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump insertion to optimize myocardial perfusion. Management of myocardial ischemia was complicated by bleeding in the setting of coagulopathy necessitating correction. Once hemostasis was achieved, the patient immediately underwent coronary angiography and bare metal stent placement in the mid-left anterior descending coronary artery for an acute plaque rupture.

Inequities in Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve Replacement Between Black/African-American, White, and Hispanic Residents of Maryland.

Background Racial and ethnic inequities exist in surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis (AS), and early studies have suggested similar inequities in transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Methods and Results We performed a retrospective analysis of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission inpatient data set from 2016 to 2018. Black patients had half the incidence of any inpatient AS diagnosis compared with White patients (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.50; 95% CI, 0.48-0.52; P<0.001) and Hispanic patients had one fourth the incidence compared with White patients (IRR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.22-0.29; P<0.001). Conversely, the incidence of any inpatient mitral regurgitation diagnosis did not differ between White and Black patients (IRR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.97-1.03; P=0.97) but was significantly lower in Hispanic compared with White patients (IRR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.33-0.40; P<0.001). After multivariable adjustment, Black race was associated with a lower incidence of surgical aortic valve replacement (IRR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.55-0.82 P<0.001 relative to White race) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (IRR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.90; P=0.002) among those with any inpatient diagnosis of AS. Hispanic patients had a similar rate of surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement compared with White patients. Conclusions Hospitalization with any diagnosis of AS is less common in Black and Hispanic patients than in White patients. In hospitalized patients with AS, Black race is associated with a lower incidence of both surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement compared with White patients, whereas Hispanic patients have a similar incidence of both. The reasons for these inequities are likely multifactorial.

Crossing the Bridge to Heart Transplantation: Biventricular Impella to Support an Unstable LVAD Patient.

We report the first case of a patient with a durable left ventricular assist device admitted with cardiogenic shock and managed with biventricular Impella support as a successful bridge to heart transplantation. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Comparing Frailty Markers in Predicting Poor Outcomes after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

INTRODUCTION: Frailty is an important component of risk prognostication in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Objective markers of frailty, including sarcopenia, the modified Frailty Index (mFI), and albumin levels, have emerged, but little is known how such markers compare to each other in predicting outcomes after TAVR. We sought to define and compare these markers in predicting long-term outcomes after TAVR. METHODS: Patients who underwent TAVR at our institution from 2011 to 2016 were included. Indexed cross-sectional areas of the lumbosacral muscles on preoperative computed tomography scans were used to assess sarcopenia. Optimal cutoffs for sarcopenia were defined using a statistically validated method. mFI was calculated using an 11-point scale of clinical characteristics. The primary outcome was 2-year all-cause mortality. Adjusted survival analysis was used to analyze outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 381 patients were included in this study. Sarcopenia of the psoas muscles was associated with an increased risk of mortality on univariate (HR: 2.3, P = 0.01) and multivariate (HR: 2.5, P = 0.01) analysis. Sarcopenia of the paravertebral muscles was associated with increased risk of mortality only on univariate analysis (HR: 2.1, P = 0.03). Increased preoperative albumin levels were associated with decreased risk of mortality on univariate (HR: 0.3, P < 0.01) and multivariate analysis (HR: 0.3, P < 0.01). The (mFI) was not associated with mortality on univariate or multivariate analysis. DISCUSSION: Novel cutoffs for sarcopenia of the psoas muscles were determined and associated with decreased survival after TAVR. Sarcopenia and albumin levels may be better tools for risk prediction than mFI in TAVR.

Preoperative Echocardiographic Differences and Transplant Outcomes Among Patients Receiving Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Versus Liver Transplant Alone.

OBJECTIVES: Liver transplant and simultaneous liver-kidney transplant are major surgeries performed on high-risk individuals with end-stage liver disease and end-stage renal disease. We sought to examine the relationship between pretransplant echocardiographic parameters and outcomes in our simultaneous liver-kidney transplant and liver transplant-alone populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our retrospective analysis, we included adult patients who underwent index transplant from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015 at Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center. RESULTS: Our study included 312 patients, 266 who underwent liver transplant alone and 46 who underwent simultaneous liver-kidney transplant. Baseline population demographics were similar in both groups of patients. Primary diagnosis at transplant was similar in both groups except that patients undergoing liver transplant were more likely to have a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas those undergoing simultaneous liver-kidney transplant were more likely to have polycystic kidney disease. Within the liver transplant-alone group, the strongest demographic predictor of poor outcome was age at transplant. The strongest echocar diographic predictors were related to elevated left ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular systolic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: In our investigation regarding whether the pretransplant cardiovascular evaluation predicted outcomes for patients undergoing liver transplant alone and patients undergoing simultaneous liver-kidney transplant, we found that elevations in right ventricular systolic pressure and left ventricular ejection fraction may be associated with poor outcomes in the posttransplant period.

The predictors of post-transplant coronary events among liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Cardiac morbidities can occur during the peri- and post-liver transplant (LT) period, affecting the long-term survival. The purpose of this study was to identify the potential factors that predict a coronary event post-transplantation. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent liver transplantation at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2009 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. We looked at pre-liver transplant cardiac risk factors and the diagnostic tests utilized for coronary artery disease screening. Patients with and without post-liver transplant coronary events were compared. RESULTS: There were a total of 146 patients with a mean age at LT of 55.3 years. The prevalence of hypertension, tobacco use and diabetes within the patient population was 61.6 % (n = 90), 39 % (n = 57) and 37.6 % (n = 55), respectively. There were 29 deaths and 30 coronary events over a median follow-up period of 1.75 years. Age at the time of liver transplant was predictive of coronary event (OR 1.11, CI 1.01-1.20). The 1-year survival in patients with a coronary event was 47 versus 94 % in patients without a coronary event. The combined use of a dobutamine stress echocardiogram and coronary artery calcium score predicted a coronary event with a sensitivity of 62.5 % and specificity of 66.7 %. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, LT recipients with cardiac events had limited survival as compared to the cohort without coronary events. Identification of such patients with noninvasive screening may provide a practical alternative to an invasive cardiac workup. Further improvement in screening strategies may minimize the liver transplant cardiac morbidity.

Role of coronary artery calcium score in identifying occult coronary artery disease in patients evaluated for deceased-donor liver transplant - a preliminary report.

Coronary artery disease may affect cirrhotic patients regardless of age and etiology of the underlying liver disease. Early identification of coronary artery disease is important to be able to achieve the best posttransplant outcomes and survival. The coronary artery calcium score can be used as a screening tool to supplement the results of cardiac stress tests to identify a subgroup of patients who may benefit from further investigation with coronary arteriogram. Arteriogram is an invasive test and may cause renal compromise and risk of bleeding associated with coagulopathy. The present retrospective study showed that coronary artery calcium score > 250 Agatston units may help select the subgroup of patients who will benefit from further investigation with cardiac catheterization, and determining this score may limit the risks of catheterization.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: historical perspectives, current evidence, and future directions.

Severe aortic stenosis (AS) results in considerable morbidity and mortality without aortic valve replacement and is expected to increase in prevalence with the aging population. Because AS primarily affects the elderly, many patients with comorbidities are poor candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and may not be referred. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as transformative technology for the management of AS over the past decade. Randomized trials have established the safety and efficacy of TAVR with improved mortality and quality of life compared with medical therapy in inoperable patients, while demonstrating noninferiority and even superiority to SAVR among high-risk operative candidates. However, early studies demonstrated an early penalty of stroke and vascular complications with TAVR as well as increased paravalvular leak as compared with SAVR. Two device platforms have been evaluated and approved for use in the United States: the Edwards SAPIEN and the Medtronic CoreValve. Early studies also suggest cost-effectiveness for TAVR. Ongoing studies are evaluating new iterations of the aforementioned TAVR devices, novel device designs, and applications of TAVR in expanded populations of patients including those with lower risk profiles as well as those with comorbidities that were excluded from early clinical trials. Future improvements in TAVR technology will likely reduce periprocedural and long-term complications. Further studies are needed to confirm device durability over long-term follow-up and explore the applicability of TAVR to broader AS patient populations.

Thrombectomy Devices in Coronary Intervention.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the favored mode of reperfusion therapy for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) when able to be performed in a timely fashion in appropriately selected patients. However, controversy about the role of coronary thrombectomy in the management of STEMI persists because of a paucity of favorable historical data. After the TAPAS trial thrombectomy has gained favor in recent years. The results of the TOTAL, TASTE, and SMART percutaneous coronary intervention trials will provide further insight into the use of thrombectomy in STEMI. This article examines the relevant trial evidence regarding how to best manage and apply thrombectomy in clinical practice.

SDF-1 expression by mesenchymal stem cells results in trophic support of cardiac myocytes after myocardial infarction.

Stem cell transplantation at the time of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) improves cardiac function. Whether the improved cardiac function results from regeneration of cardiac myocytes, modulation of remodeling, or preservation of injured tissue through paracrine mechanisms is actively debated. Because no specific stem cell population has been shown to be optimal, we investigated whether the benefit of stem cell transplantation could be attributed to a trophic effect on injured myocardium. Mesenchymal stem cells secrete SDF-1 and the interaction of SDF-1 with its receptor, CXCR4, increases survival of progenitor cells. Therefore, we compared the effects of MSC and MSC engineered to overexpress SDF-1 on cardiac function after AMI. Tail vein infusion of syngeneic MSC and MSC:SDF-1 1 day after AMI in the Lewis rat led to improved cardiac function by echocardiography by 70.7% and 238.8%, respectively, compared with saline controls 5 wk later. The beneficial effects of MSC and MSC:SDF-1 transplantation were mediated primarily through preservation, not regeneration of cardiac myocytes within the infarct zone. The direct effect of SDF-1 on cardiac myocytes was due to the observation that, between 24 and 48 h after AMI, SDF-1-expressing MSC increased cardiac myocyte survival, vascular density (18.2+/-4.0 vs. 7.6+/-2.3 vessels/mm2, P<0.01; SDF-1:MSC vs. MSC), and cardiac myosin-positive area (MSC: 49.5%; mSC:SDF-1: 162.1%) within the infarct zone. There was no evidence of cardiac regeneration by the infused MSC or endogenous cardiac stem cells based on lack of evidence for cardiac myocytes being derived from replicating cells. These results indicate that stem cell transplantation may have significant beneficial effects on injured organ function independent of tissue regeneration and identify SDF-1:CXCR4 binding as a novel target for myocardial preservation.

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor in patients with large acute myocardial infarction: results of a pilot dose-escalation randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies suggest that administration of cytokines to mobilize stem cells and alter the postinfarction inflammatory cardiac milieu may enhance left ventricular function and survival. METHODS: Eighteen patients were randomized in a 2:1 double-blind fashion to granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (at 5 escalating to 10 microg/kg per day subcutaneously for 5 days [6 patients in each group]) or matching placebo. Principal safety and efficacy end points were rupture-free survival and recovery of left ventricular function, respectively. Mobilization into the systemic circulation of precursor CD34+ and CD117+ stem cells at 30 days were also assessed. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of the 3 groups were well matched. Mean +/- SD creatine kinase-MB maximum was 349 (169) IU. Follow-up averaged 30 +/- 6, 21 +/- 11, and 11 +/- 6 months in the 3 groups, respectively. Precursor cell mobilization increased by a factor of 5 to 7 in the G-CSF-treated patients. There were no deaths or myocardial ruptures leading to tamponade through 30 days. Baseline and 30-day left ventricular ejection fraction in the placebo, 5-microg, and 10-microg dose groups were 33.7% (1.6) and 41.7% (8.2), 36.8% (7.5) and 41.3% (10.3), and 33.5% (4.8) and 38.7% (7.3), respectively (P = NS for all between-group comparisons). No differences between the G-CSF and placebo groups were noted in any other measure of left ventricular systolic or diastolic function 30 days after infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Despite demonstrated mobilization of precursor stem cells in a timely fashion, in this small, pilot-scale randomized trial involving patients with large myocardial infarction, we were unable to demonstrate improvement in left ventricular function at 30 days.

Ischemic and bleeding outcomes in women treated with bivalirudin during percutaneous coronary intervention: a subgroup analysis of the Randomized Evaluation in PCI Linking Angiomax to Reduced Clinical Events (REPLACE)-2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes in women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the contemporary era are poorly defined. The REPLACE-2 trial demonstrated that bivalirudin with provisional glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GpIIb-IIIa) blockade is noninferior to heparin with planned GpIIb-IIIa blockade during PCI, with regard to ischemic and bleeding end points. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to define sex-based clinical ischemic and bleeding outcomes from the REPLACE-2 trial. METHODS: A retrospective sex-based subgroup analysis of the REPLACE-2 trial comparing clinical ischemic and inhospital bleeding end points was conducted. RESULTS: Compared with men in REPLACE-2, women were older, had more diabetes, congestive heart failure and hypertension, and less prior revascularization and myocardial infarction. Female sex was a univariate predictor of death and bleeding complications. Among women treated with either bivalirudin or heparin, there was no significant difference in the individual or composite ischemic end points of death, myocardial infarction, or urgent revascularization at 30 days or 6 months. Protocol-defined major bleeding, minor bleeding, and access site bleeding were less frequent with bivalirudin compared with heparin. Multivariable modeling found no significant interactions between sexes, with the composite ischemic end point, major bleeding, or 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Women remain at higher risk for poorer outcomes with contemporary PCI, likely because of comorbidities. Bivalirudin with provisional GpIIb-IIIa confers similar protection against ischemic end points compared with heparin and planned GpIIb-IIIa blockade and significantly reduces the inherent bleeding risk of women undergoing contemporary PCI.