Continuous improvement in outcome after heart transplantation - Long-term follow-up after three decades of experience.

AIMS: Heart transplantation (HTx) has become the standard treatment for patients with end-stage heart disease. We report on the long-term outcome after HTx at our centre and investigate trends in outcome over time. METHODS: During the period, between 1984 and 2014, a total of 610 HTx procedures were performed in 595 patients (median 48years; IQR 31-57years; range 24days-71years; mean 43years; 75% male) in our institution. Long-term outcome was investigated in the whole cohort, among children (n=76), bridged with mechanical circulatory support (MCS, n=131), re-transplanted (n=17), and concomitant kidney transplantation (n=12). RESULTS: Long-term survival was at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20years: 86% (95CI 0.83-0.89); 77% (95CI 0.73-0.80); 63% (95CI 0.59-0.68); 48% (95CI 0.43-0.54) and 30% (95CI 0.25-0.36), respectively. The median survival for the whole cohort was 14.1years. Patients transplanted during the most recent time period (2010-2014) had a better survival compared to previous eras, with a 1- and 3-year survival of 94% (95CI 0.89-0.97) and 93% (95CI 0.88-0.96), respectively (p<0.001). However, when survival was analysed for long-term MCS (n=80) versus short term MCS (n=35), there was a significantly poorer survival for the short-term MCS group (p=0.001). Independent predictors of long-term mortality included recipient age (p=0.041); previous smoking (p=0.034); ischemic heart disease (p=0.002); and preoperative ventilator therapy (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that continuous improvement in outcome after HTx still occurs. In the last time era, direct transplantation from short-term MCS was abandoned, which may have inflicted outcome during the last time era.

Are biventricular assist devices underused as a bridge to heart transplantation in patients with a high risk of postimplant right ventricular failure?

OBJECTIVE: Right ventricular failure in patients treated using left ventricular assist devices is associated with poor outcomes. We assessed the strategy of preplanned biventricular assist device implantation in patients with a high risk for right ventricular failure. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2014, we assigned 20 patients to preplanned biventricular assist device and 21 patients to left ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplantation on the basis of the estimated risk of postimplant right ventricular failure. Preimplant characteristics and postimplant outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Patients with a biventricular assist device were younger, more often female, and more frequently had nonischemic heart disease than left ventricular assist device recipients. At preoperative assessment, biventricular assist device recipients had poorer Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support profiles, a lower cardiac index, and more compromised right ventricular function. Survival on device to heart transplantation/weaning/destination for biventricular assist device and left ventricular assist device recipients was 90% versus 86% (not significant), with shorter heart transplantation waiting times for biventricular assist device recipients (median days, 154 vs 302, P < .001). Overall survival at 1 year was 85% (95% confidence interval, 62-95) versus 86% (95% confidence interval, 64-95) (not significant). The majority of both biventricular assist device and left ventricular assist device recipients could be discharged to home during the heart transplantation waiting time (55% vs 71%, not significant), and complication rates on device were comparable between groups (major stroke 10% vs 10%, not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Planned in advance, the biventricular assist device seems to be a feasible option as bridge to heart transplantation for patients with a high risk of postimplant right ventricular failure. The outcomes for these patients were similar to those observed for contemporary left ventricular assist device recipients, despite those receiving biventricular assist devices being more severely ill.

Tricuspid regurgitation influences outcome after heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the correlation between tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and late survival, and its relation to bicaval (BC) and biatrial (BA) technique, after heart transplantation (HTx). METHODS: HTx was performed in 464 patients between 1984 and 2009 at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The BA technique was mostly performed in the early experience and BC in the late experience. Most patients underwent echocardiograms, and data for TR were retrospectively gathered at discharge and at the 5-year and 10-year follow-up. Survival with regard to surgical technique and to post-operative TR was analyzed. RESULTS: The BC technique resulted in less early TR (p < 0.001). This difference was still observed among survivors at 5 years (p = 0.013) but not at 10 years (p = 0.082). A multivariate logistic regression analysis found the BA technique was the only predictor of early moderate to severe TR (odds ratio, 2.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-4.32; p < 0.001). Furthermore, when time era was introduced, it became the only significant predictor, with a lower risk to develop moderate to severe early post-operative TR in more recent eras. There was no significant difference in long-term survival between the 2 surgical technique groups. However, stratified for TR at discharge, patients with mild or no TR had better survival than those with moderate or severe TR (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The BC technique results in less TR early post-operatively. The BA technique and/or time era seem to predict the occurrence of early moderate to severe TR. Regardless of the technique used, patients with moderate or severe TR at discharge have an increased mortality during the first 5 years.

Retransfusion of cardiotomy suction blood impairs haemostasis: ex vivo and in vivo studies.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiotomy suction blood in volumes corresponding to 10-20% of the systemic blood volume is retransfused during cardiopulmonary bypass. We hypothesized that retransfusion of unwashed cardiotomy suction blood influences coagulation and platelet function. DESIGN: Systemic blood samples collected during cardiopulmonary bypass were supplemented ex vivo with autologous wound blood (5, 10 and 20%, respectively). Clot formation and platelet function were assessed with thromboelastometry and platelet aggregometry. In an in vivo pilot study 30 patients were randomized into a retransfusion and a no-retransfusion group. Clot formation, platelet aggregability and thrombin generation capacity were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Cardiotomy suction blood had markedly impaired clot stability and reduced levels of fibrinogen and platelets compared with systemic blood. Ex vivo addition of 10% and 20% suction blood to systemic blood impaired platelet aggregability and clot stability. Retransfusion of small amounts of wound blood in vivo (mean volume 280 ml, corresponding to 5% of the blood volume) did not significantly influence haemostasis. CONCLUSIONS: The ex vivo results suggest that addition of unwashed cardiotomy suction blood in clinically relevant volumes impairs systemic haemostasis. Retransfusion of smaller volumes in vivo has no or limited impact. Avoiding retransfusion of larger amounts of unwashed cardiotomy suction may improve postoperative haemostasis.

Cell salvage of cardiotomy suction blood improves the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The inflammatory response after cardiac surgery is characterized by a profound release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Recent data suggest that the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is of greater importance than the absolute levels. Retransfusion of unwashed cardiotomy suction blood contributes to the inflammatory response, but the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cardiotomy suction blood and whether cell salvage before retransfusion influences the systemic balance have not been investigated previously. METHODS: Twenty-five coronary artery bypass grafting patients were randomized to either cell salvage of cardiotomy suction blood or no cell salvage before retransfusion. Plasma levels of three anti-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-4 and IL-10] and two proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6), and the IL-6-to-IL-10 ratio was measured in cardiotomy suction blood before and after cell salvage, and in the systemic circulation before, during and after surgery. RESULTS: Plasma levels of all cytokines except IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly higher in cardiotomy suction blood than in the systemic circulation. The IL-6-to-IL-10 ratio was 6-fold higher in cardiotomy suction blood than in the systemic circulation [median 10.2 (range 1.1-75) vs 1.7 (0.2-24), P < 0.001]. Cell salvage reduced plasma levels of cytokines in cardiotomy suction blood and improved the systemic IL-6-to-IL-10 ratio 24 h after surgery [median 5.2 (3.6-17) vs 12.4 (4.9-31)] compared with no cell salvage (P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: The balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cardiotomy suction blood is unfavourable. Cell salvage reduces the absolute levels of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cardiotomy suction blood and improves the balance in the systemic circulation after surgery.

A single-centre experience of over one thousand lead extractions.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to present a single-centre experience of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead extraction using different methods, mainly laser-assisted extraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from 1032 leads and 647 procedures were gathered. A step-by-step approach using different techniques while performing an ongoing risk-benefit analysis was used. The most common indications were local infection, systemic infection, non-functional lead, elective lead replacement, and J-wire fracture. Mean implantation time for all leads was 69 months and for laser-extracted leads 91 months. Laser technique was used to extract 60% of the leads, 29% were manually extracted, 6% extracted with mechanical tools, 4% were surgically removed, and 0.6% extracted by a femoral approach. Failure rate was 0.7%, and major complication rate was 0.9%. No extraction-related mortality occurred. Median time for laser extraction was 2 min. Long implantation time was not a risk factor for failure or for complication. CONCLUSION: Pacing and ICD leads can safely, successfully, and effectively be extracted. Leads can often be extracted by a superior transvenous approach; however, open-chest and femoral extractions are still required. Laser-assisted lead extraction proved to be a useful technique to extract leads that could not be removed by manual traction. The results indicate that the paradigm of abandoning redundant leads, instead of removing them, may have to be reconsidered.

Cardiac rupture during vacuum-assisted closure therapy.

Vacuum-assisted closure therapy is a recently introduced technique for treatment of deep sternal wound infections after cardiac surgery. We present five cases of vacuum-assisted closure therapy-related major bleeding complications due to rupture of the right ventricle. This potentially lethal complication may be avoided by covering the heart with protective layers of paraffin gauze dressings.

Hemodynamic effects of cardiotomy suction blood.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac surgery induces a systemic inflammatory activation, which in severe cases is associated with peripheral vasodilation and hypotension. Cardiotomy suction blood contains high levels of inflammatory mediators, but the effect of cardiotomy suction blood on the vasculture is unknown. We investigated the effect of cardiotomy suction blood on systemic vascular resistance in vivo and whether cell-saver processing of suction blood affects the vascular response. METHODS: Twenty-five patients undergoing coronary surgery (mean age, 68 +/- 2 years; 80% men) were included in a prospective randomized study. The patients were randomized to retransfusion of cell-saver processed (n = 13) or cell-saver unprocessed (n = 12) suction blood during full cardiopulmonary bypass. Mean arterial blood pressure was continuously registered during retransfusion, and systemic vascular resistance was calculated. Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, and complement factor C3a were measured in suction blood. RESULTS: Retransfusion of cardiotomy suction blood induced a transient reduction in systemic vascular resistance in all patients. The peak reduction was significantly less pronounced in the group receiving cell-saver processed blood (-12% +/- 2% vs -28% +/- 3%, P = .001). There was a significant correlation between tumor necrosis factor alpha concentration in retransfused cardiotomy suction blood and peak reduction of systemic vascular resistance (r = 0.60, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest cardiotomy suction blood is vasoactive and might influence vascular resistance and blood pressure during cardiac surgery. The observed vasodilation is proportional to the inflammatory activation of suction blood and can be reduced by processing suction blood with a cell-saving device before retransfusion.