Vasoplegia Following Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: Prevalence, Predictors and Clinical Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing heart transplant are at high risk for postoperative vasoplegia. Despite its frequency and association with poor clinical outcomes, there remains no consensus definition for vasoplegia, and the predisposing risk factors for vasoplegia remain unclear. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, predictors, and clinical outcomes associated with vasoplegia in a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing heart transplantation. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing heart transplantation from January 2015 to December 2019. A binary definition of vasoplegia of a cardiac index of 2.5 L/min/m2 or greater and requirement for norepinephrine (≥5 µg/min), epinephrine (≥4 µg/min), or vasopressin (≥1 unit/h) to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure of 65 mm Hg, for 6 consecutive hours during the first 48 hours postoperatively, was used in determining prevalence. Given the relatively low threshold for the binary definition of vasoplegia, patients were divided into tertiles based on their cumulative vasopressor requirement in the 48 hours following transplant. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, intubation time, intensive care unit length of stay, and length of total hospitalization. RESULTS: After exclusion of patients with primary cardiogenic shock, major bleeding, or overt sepsis, data were collected on 95 eligible patients. By binary definition, vasoplegia incidence was 66.3%. We separately stratified by actual vasopressor requirement tertile (high, intermediate, low). Stratified by tertile, patients with vasoplegia were older (52.7 ± 10.2 vs 46.8 ± 12.7 vs 44.4 ± 11.3 years, P = .02), with higher rates of chronic kidney disease (18.8% vs 32.3% vs 3.1%, P = .01) and were more likely to have been transplanted from left ventricular assist device support (n = 42) (62.5% vs 32.3% vs 37.5%, P = .03). Cardiopulmonary bypass time was prolonged in those that developed vasoplegia (155 min [interquartile range 135-193] vs 131 min [interquartile range 117-152] vs 116 min [interquartile range 102-155], P = .003). Intubation time and length of intensive care unit and hospital stay were significantly increased in those that developed vasoplegia; however, this difference did not translate to a significant increase in all-cause mortality at 30 days or 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Vasoplegia occurs at a high rate after heart transplantation. Older age, chronic kidney disease, mechanical circulatory support, and prolonged bypass time are all associated with vasoplegia; however, this study did not demonstrate an associated increase in all-cause mortality LAY SUMMARY: Patients undergoing heart transplantation are at high risk of vasoplegia, a condition defined by low blood pressure despite normal heart function. We found that vasoplegia was common after heart transplant, occurring in 60%-70% of patients after heart transplant after excluding those with other causes for low blood pressure. Factors implicated included age, poor kidney function, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time and preoperative left ventricular assist device support. We found no increased risk of death in patients with vasoplegia despite longer lengths of stay in intensive care and in hospital.

Does continuation of antifibrotics before lung transplantation influence post-transplant outcomes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: 'Does continuation of antifibrotics before lung transplantation (LTx) influence post-transplant outcomes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with regard to mortality, bronchial anastomotic dehiscence, reoperation for bleeding and wound complications, primary graft dysfunction or longer-term survival and allograft rejection?' A total of 261 articles were found using the reported search strategy, of which 7 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. Six out of 7 studies demonstrated equivalent post-transplant survival among IPF patients on antifibrotics before LTx compared with controls. Five out of 6 studies showed no increase in the risk of major bleeding, wound or bronchial anastomotic complications. One bi-institutional study found a higher incidence of early bronchial anastomotic dehiscence, but this difference was not statistically significant after longer term follow-up. In a study that only included IPF patients who underwent single LTx, a lower incidence of grade 3 primary graft dysfunction was reported in the antifibrotic group compared with controls. Overall, to date, only small (N < 40 in the antifibrotic group), non-risk-adjusted, retrospective observational studies have been published. Notwithstanding, the summation of available evidence suggests that, in IPF patients, continuation of antifibrotic therapy before LTx is likely safe, and the rates of perioperative bleeding, wound or bronchial anastomotic complications, as well as 30-day and 1-year survival, are similar to patients not on antifibrotics before LTx.

Association of periprocedural intravenous morphine use on clinical outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the impact of periprocedural intravenous morphine on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: Morphine analgesia may reduce the absorption of co-prescribed P2Y12 antagonists attenuating platelet inhibition. The impact of periprocedural intravenous morphine on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI for STEMI is not well defined. METHODS: Analysis of the electronic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov for association of peri-PCI intravenous morphine use with in-hospital or 30-day myocardial infarction (MI) (primary outcome) and in-hospital or 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included for systematic review. One study was a randomized controlled trial, 10 were observational studies. Five studies including 3,748 patients were included in meta-analysis of in-hospital or 30-day MI. Within this group, patients were treated concurrently with ticagrelor (n = 2,239), clopidogrel (n = 1,256) and prasugrel (n = 253). There was no significant association of in-hospital or 30-day MI with intravenous morphine (odds ratio 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-4.09; I2 0%). Across seven studies and 5,800 patients, no increased risk of mortality at the same composite time endpoint was evident (odds ratio 0.70; 95% CI 0.40-1.23; I2 19%). CONCLUSIONS: Periprocedural intravenous morphine administration was not associated with adverse short-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI. Further randomized trial data are needed to evaluate the pharmacologic interaction between morphine and P2Y12 antagonists with clinical outcomes.