Frailty in the Advanced Heart Failure Patient: A Challenging, Neglected, Yet Potentially Modifiable Risk Factor.

Purpose of review: There is an increasing push for frailty assessment to become a routine part of the evaluation of potential candidates for advanced heart failure (AHF) therapies. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of frailty in the care of the AHF patient. Recent findings: This review focuses on some of the available data for the assessment of frailty specifically in the AHF, durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and heart transplant (HT) patients, and explores some of the challenges in assessing frailty in these patient populations. Summary: As the presence of frailty can significantly impact outcomes after HT and durable MCS implantation, there should be an increased recognition of this entity during routine evaluation and management of the AHF patient.

Degree of change in right ventricular adaptation measures during axillary Impella support informs risk stratification for early, severe right heart failure following durable LVAD implantation.

Risk assessment for early, severe right heart failure (RHF) after LVAD implantation remains imperfect. We sought to define the differences in RV adaptation and load after axillary Impella support between patients who experienced RHF and those who did not. Seventeen of 18 patients included were deemed intermediate or high risk for RHF by EUROMACS-RHF score. Before Impella insertion, RV adaptation parameters (RAP, RAP:PCWP, PAPi) were worse in the non-RHF group compared to the RHF group. In both groups, RV load parameters (effective pulmonary arterial elastance, pulmonary vascular resistance, and pulmonary vascular compliance) improved after Impella insertion. Lesser improvements in RV adaptation were seen in the RHF group. Moreover, load-to-adaptation relationships (EA/RAP and EA/RAP:PCWP) worsened to a greater degree. In patients at intermediate or high risk for RHF after LVAD, assessment of RV adaptation and load during axillary Impella support may improve risk stratification.

The cardiac arrest survival score: A predictive algorithm for in-hospital mortality after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with high mortality. Current methods for predicting mortality post-arrest require data unavailable at the time of initial medical contact. We created and validated a risk prediction model for patients experiencing OHCA who achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) which relies only on objective information routinely obtained at first medical contact. METHODS: We performed a retrospective evaluation of 14,892 OHCA patients in a large metropolitan cardiac arrest registry, of which 3952 patients had usable data. This population was divided into a derivation cohort (n = 2,635) and a verification cohort (n = 1,317) in a 2:1 ratio. Backward stepwise logistic regression was used to identify baseline factors independently associated with death after sustained ROSC in the derivation cohort. The cardiac arrest survival score (CASS) was created from the model and its association with in-hospital mortality was examined in both the derivation and verification cohorts. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of the derivation and verification cohorts were not different. The final CASS model included age >75 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61, confidence interval [CI][1.30-1.99], p < 0.001), unwitnessed arrest (OR = 1.95, CI[1.58-2.40], p < 0.001), home arrest (OR = 1.28, CI[1.07-1.53], p = 0.008), absence of bystander CPR (OR = 1.35, CI[1.12-1.64], p = 0.003), and non-shockable initial rhythm (OR = 3.81, CI[3.19-4.56], p < 0.001). The area under the curve for the model derivation and model verification cohorts were 0.7172 and 0.7081, respectively. CONCLUSION: CASS accurately predicts mortality in OHCA patients. The model uses only binary, objective clinical data routinely obtained at first medical contact. Early risk stratification may allow identification of more patients in whom timely and aggressive invasive management may improve outcomes.

Scaling the Low-Shear Pulsatile TORVAD for Pediatric Heart Failure.

This article provides an overview of the design challenges associated with scaling the low-shear pulsatile TORVAD ventricular assist device (VAD) for treating pediatric heart failure. A cardiovascular system model was used to determine that a 15 ml stroke volume device with a maximum flow rate of 4 L/min can provide full support to pediatric patients with body surface areas between 0.6 and 1.5 m. Low-shear stress in the blood is preserved as the device is scaled down and remains at least two orders of magnitude less than continuous flow VADs. A new magnetic linkage coupling the rotor and piston has been optimized using a finite element model (FEM) resulting in increased heat transfer to the blood while reducing the overall size of TORVAD. Motor FEM has also been used to reduce motor size and improve motor efficiency and heat transfer. FEM analysis predicts no more than 1°C temperature rise on any blood or tissue contacting surface of the device. The iterative computational approach established provides a methodology for developing a TORVAD platform technology with various device sizes for supporting the circulation of infants to adults.

Hypoxia-induced retinal neovascularization in zebrafish embryos: a potential model of retinopathy of prematurity.

Retinopathy of prematurity, formerly known as a retrolental fibroplasia, is a leading cause of infantile blindness worldwide. Retinopathy of prematurity is caused by the failure of central retinal vessels to reach the retinal periphery, creating a nonperfused peripheral retina, resulting in retinal hypoxia, neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage, vitreoretinal fibrosis, and loss of vision. We established a potential retinopathy of prematurity model by using a green fluorescent vascular endothelium zebrafish transgenic line treated with cobalt chloride (a hypoxia-inducing agent), followed by GS4012 (a vascular endothelial growth factor inducer) at 24 hours postfertilization, and observed that the number of vascular branches and sprouts significantly increased in the central retinal vascular trunks 2-4 days after treatment. We created an angiography method by using tetramethylrhodamine dextran, which exhibited severe vascular leakage through the vessel wall into the surrounding retinal tissues. The quantification of mRNA extracted from the heads of the larvae by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed a twofold increase in vegfaa and vegfr2 expression compared with the control group, indicating increased vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in the hypoxic condition. In addition, we demonstrated that the hypoxic insult could be effectively rescued by several antivascular endothelial growth factor agents such as SU5416, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab. In conclusion, we provide a simple, highly reproducible, and clinically relevant retinopathy of prematurity model based on zebrafish embryos; this model may serve as a useful platform for clarifying the mechanisms of human retinopathy of prematurity and its progression.

Autologous serum therapy in recalcitrant laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis-induced neurotrophic epitheliopathy.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of autologous serum eye drops for patients with recalcitrant laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)-induced neurotrophic epitheliopathy (LINE) unresponsive to conventional treatment, and to determine the possible predisposing risk factors of these patients. METHODS: We enrolled 10 consecutive patients (20 eyes) undergoing femtosecond-assisted myopic LASIK surgery presenting with recalcitrant LINE for > 1 year. Another 340 patients (713 eyes) receiving femtosecond-assisted myopic LASIK without recalcitrant LINE were set as controls. Possible risk factors associated with recalcitrant LINE were investigated. Twenty percent autologous serum treatment was prescribed to 20 eyes. The efficacy of autologous serum was assessed with ocular surface conditions, tear function, and the change of best-corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: Age older than 30 years [odds ratio (OR) = 7.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.74-34.50], flap thickness < 110 µm (OR = 3.47; 95% CI, 1.22-9.73), and a flap diameter < 8.5 mm (OR = 5.38; 95% CI, 1.95-14.85) pose higher risks in femtosecond laser-assisted myopic LASIK. All eyes (100%) achieved remission after autologous serum treatment. The visual acuity before treatment was 0.49 ± 0.41 in LogMAR, and the visual acuity after treatment was 0.14 ± 0.22 in LogMAR. Time to achieve remission was 8.26 ± 11.87 weeks. Mean relapse-free survival after discontinuing autologous serum was 47 weeks. CONCLUSION: Risk factors of recalcitrant LINE in femtosecond laser-assisted myopic LASIK were identified as older age, a thinner flap (<110 µm), and a small flap diameter (<8.5 mm). Autologous serum eye drops can effectively improve corneal surface conditions and postoperative visual acuity.