Stroke outcomes following durable left ventricular assist device implant in patients bridged with micro-axial flow pump: Insights from a large registry.

BACKGROUND: Stroke after durable left ventricular assist device (d-LVAD) implantation portends high mortality. The incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and the impact on stroke outcomes of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) management among patients requiring bridge to d-LVAD with micro-axial flow-pump (mAFP, Abiomed) is unsettled. METHODS: Consecutive patients, who underwent d-LVAD implantation after being bridged with mAFP at 19 institutions, were retrospectively included. The incidence of early ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke after d-LVAD implantation (<60 days) and association of pre-d-LVAD characteristics and peri-procedural management with a specific focus on tMCS strategies were studied. RESULTS: Among 341 patients, who underwent d-LVAD implantation after mAFP implantation (male gender 83.6%, age 58 [48-65] years, mAFP 5.0/5.5 72.4%), the early ischemic stroke incidence was 10.8% and early hemorrhagic stroke 2.9%. The tMCS characteristics (type of mAFP device and access, support duration, upgrade from intra-aortic balloon pump, ECMELLA, ECMELLA at d-LVAD implantation, hemolysis, and bleeding) were not associated with ischemic stroke after d-LVAD implant. Conversely, the device model (mAFP 2.5/CP vs. mAFP 5.0/5.5: HR 5.6, 95%CI 1.4-22.7, p = 0.015), hemolysis on mAFP support (HR 10.5, 95% CI 1.3-85.3, p = 0.028) and ECMELLA at d-LVAD implantation (HR 5.0, 95% CI 1.4-18.7, p = 0.016) were associated with increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke after d-LVAD implantation. Both early ischemic (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9-4.5, p < 0.001) and hemorrhagic (HR 3.43, 95% CI 1.49-7.88, p = 0.004) stroke were associated with increased 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing d-LVAD implantation following mAFP support, tMCS characteristics do not impact ischemic stroke occurrence, while several factors are associated with hemorrhagic stroke suggesting a proactive treatment target to reduce this complication.

Patient-related effects of primary nursing : Protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Since January 2022, a primary nursing system called process-responsible nursing (PP) has substituted the standard room care system in an intensive care unit (ICU) at our institution. The process of the development and implementation of PP is already being evaluated in a separate study as an actual analysis prior to implementation, as well as after 6 and 12 months. AIM: This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to test the feasibility of an RCT. For this purpose, the duration of delirium, among other things, will be compared in the project ICU with the results of standard care in another ICU at the university hospital. As secondary aims, the incidence of delirium, anxiety, the satisfaction of relatives, and the effects of PP on nurses will be assessed. METHODS: It is planned to recruit about 400-500 patients over a period of one year. They will be allocated to PP or standard care. Delirium will be assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units by specifically trained nurses three times a day. Anxiety in patients, the satisfaction of relatives, and the effects of PP on nurses will be evaluated using the numeric rating scale, a standardized questionnaire, and a focus group interview, respectively. EXPECTED RESULTS: The primary hypothesis is that compared to usual care PP reduces the duration of delirium by at least 8 h. Additional hypotheses are that PP reduces anxiety in patients and increases the satisfaction of relatives.

Long-term follow-up of total arterial revascularization with left internal thoracic artery and radial artery T-grafts: survival, cardiac morbidity and quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery bypass grafting is the gold standard for the treatment of patients with multiple-vessel coronary artery disease. The long-term outcome can be improved using arterial grafts. We analysed the initial series of patients who underwent total arterial revascularization at our institute using left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and radial artery (RA) composite T-grafts and had a follow-up of >10 years. METHODS: We included all patients who received an isolated, non-emergent total arterial revascularization using LITA-RA T-grafts between September 1996 and August 2001 in our institution. We performed a follow-up of 138 patients (104 male, 60 ± 9 years old). RESULTS: Early outcome was excellent. The 30-day mortality, reoperation, neurological complication and myocardial ischaemia rate was 1% (n = 2), 5% (n = 7), 2% (n = 3) and 2% (n = 3), respectively. Mean follow-up was 11 ± 3 years. Long-term survival was 79% (n = 86). There were seven cardiac deaths during follow-up. Freedom from major cardiovascular events for 1, 5 and 10 years was 97, 91 and 84%, respectively. A total of 95 coronary angiographies were performed 4.6 ± 4.1 years postoperatively. In total, 453 anastomoses using the composite graft (LITA-RA as T-graft) were performed. During follow-up, 35 anastomoses were occluded (30 RA anastomoses and 5 LITA anastomoses), leading to an occlusion rate of 7.7% during follow-up. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 18 cases and coronary reoperation in two cases during follow-up. Quality-of-life assessment by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire revealed excellent results. CONCLUSIONS: Total arterial revascularization using composite LITA-RA T-grafts leads to excellent long-term results after >10 years.