Prognostic implications of delirium after Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: In critically ill patients, delirium is a prognostic indicator of morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the impact of a delirium diagnosis on outcomes after Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation. METHODS: This retrospective study included all adult patients who received LVADs at our institution between January 2016 and December 2020. We compared pre-implantation characteristics between the two groups, with and without a diagnosis of delirium, and compared their outcomes, including 1-month, 6-month, and in-hospital mortality, as well as re-intubation rate, length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and readmission rates. RESULTS: In total, 361 patients (26.7% women, 75.8% African American) received durable LVADs. Ninety-four patients (26.1%) were diagnosed with delirium during the index admission. Pre-implantation demographic characteristics, past medical and psychiatric conditions, Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) Profile, and laboratory values did not differ between the two groups with and without a diagnosis of delirium; older age (59 vs 56; P=0.03) was associated with delirium. Delirium diagnosis was associated with higher 1-month (P=0.007), 6-month (P=0.004), and in-hospital mortality (P<0.001), unplanned re-intubations (P<0.001), and a lower likelihood of discharge home (P = 0.03). Total hospital and ICU LOS were higher in patients with a diagnosis of delirium, though these results were not statistically significant. Readmission to hospital after index admission was quicker in patients with a diagnosis of delirium, but this result was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a diagnosis of delirium during the LVAD implantation admission was associated with higher mortality, adverse post-surgical outcomes, and unfavorable discharge dispositions. Future prospective research is needed to validate the prognostic implications of delirium in both the short and long term. Additionally, there is a need to identify modifiable risk factors associated with delirium to promote early diagnosis and implement evidence-based management strategies to enhance outcomes within this population.

Early Ventricular Arrhythmias After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Although sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are a common complication after durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, the incidence, risk factors, and prognostic implications of postoperative early VAs (EVAs) in contemporary patients with LVAD are poorly understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: A single-center retrospective analysis was performed of patients who underwent LVAD implantation from October 1, 2006, to October 1, 2022. EVA was defined as an episode of sustained VA identified ≤30 days after LVAD implantation. A total of 789 patients underwent LVAD implantation (mean age 62.9 ± 0. years 5, HeartMate 3 41.4%, destination therapy 43.3%). EVAs occurred in 100 patients (12.7%). A history of end-stage renal disease (odds ratio [OR] 5.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-21.70), preoperative electrical storm (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.11-7.16), and appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator therapy before implantation (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.26-6.19) are independently associated with EVAs. EVA was associated with decreased 30-day survival (hazard ratio 3.02, 95% CI 1.1-8.3, P = .032). There was no difference in transplant-free survival time between patients with and without EVAs (hazard ratio 0.82, 95% CI 0.5-1.4, P = .454). CONCLUSIONS: EVAs are common after durable LVAD implantation and are associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality.

Stable Ventricular Fibrillation: A Paradigm Rather Than Septal Shift?

Awake patients in ventricular fibrillation is a phenomenon limited to patients who are mechanically supported. We describe a cohort of patients supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) presenting to the emergency department (ED) at a high-volume LVAD center while in awake ventricular fibrillation (VF)/ventricular tachycardia (VT). Among 175 patients reviewed, a total of 19 LVAD patients presented to the ED in awake VF/VT between December 2015 and July 2021. On ED presentation, patients maintained a median mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) of 70 mm Hg with a mean LVAD flow of 3.77 L/minute. ED management included cardioversion in the majority of cases: 58% were defibrillated once, 21% were defibrillated multiple times, 68% received amiodarone, and 21% received lidocaine. Inpatient management included defibrillation, ablation, and antiarrhythmic initiation in 37%, 11%, and 84% of cases, respectively. In total, five patients (26%) died with one death attributed to recurrent VT. Our findings support the short-term tolerability of sustained ventricular arrhythmias in LVAD patients, as evidenced by the maintained MAPs and mental status. Clinical teams, however, should be aware of the potential harbinger for in-hospital mortality heralded by an awake VF/VT presentation.

Variation in Hemodynamic Assessment and Interpretation: A Call to Standardize the Right Heart Catheterization.

BACKGROUND: Invasive hemodynamic measurement via right heart catheterization has shown divergent data in its role in the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF) and cardiogenic shock. We hypothesized that variation in data acquisition technique and interpretation might contribute to these observations. We sought to assess differences in hemodynamic acquisition and interpretation by operator subspecialty as well as level of experience. METHODS AND RESULTS: Individual-level responses to how physicians both collect and interpret hemodynamic data at the time of right heart catheterization was solicited via a survey distributed to international professional societies in HF and interventional cardiology. Data were stratified both by operator subspecialty (HF specialists or interventional cardiologists [IC]) and operator experience (early career [≤10 years from training] or late career [>10 years from training]) to determine variations in clinical practice. For the sensitivity analysis, we also look at differences in each subgroup. A total of 261 responses were received. There were 141 clinicians (52%) who self-identified as HF specialists, 99 (38%) identified as IC, and 20 (8%) identified as other. There were 142 early career providers (54%) and late career providers (119 [46%]). When recording hemodynamic values, there was considerable variation in practice patterns, regardless of subspecialty or level of experience for the majority of the intracardiac variables. There was no agreement or mild agreement among HF and IC as to when to record right atrial pressures or pulmonary capillary wedge pressures. HF cardiologists were more likely to routinely measure both Fick and thermodilution cardiac output compared with IC (51% vs 29%, P < .001), something mirrored in early career vs later career cardiologists. CONCLUSIONS: Significant variation exists between the acquisition and interpretation of right heart catheterization measurements between HF and IC, as well as those early and late in their careers. With the growth of the heart team approach to management of patients in cardiogenic shock, standardization of both assessment and management practices is needed.

Trends, Burden, and Impact of Arrhythmias on Cardiac Transplant Recipients: A 16-year Nationwide Study.

Orthotopic heart transplantation is the most effective long-term therapy for end-stage heart disease. Denervation with the loss of autonomic modulation, vasculopathy, utilization of immunosuppressant drugs, and allograft rejection may result in an increased prevalence of arrhythmias in transplanted hearts. We aim to describe the trends, distribution, and the clinical impact of arrhythmias in patients with transplanted hearts. We queried the National Inpatient Sample with administrative codes for cardiac transplant patients using procedure ICD-9-CM codes 37.5 and 33.6. Arrhythmias were extracted using validated ICD-9-CM codes. Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.4 was used for analysis. There were a total of 30,020 hospitalizations of heart transplant recipients between 1999 and 2014 in the United States of which 1,6342 (54.4%) had an arrhythmia. The frequency of total arrhythmias increased from 53.6% (n=1,158) in 1999 to 67.3% (n=1,575) in 2014. Transplant patients with arrythmias was not associated with significantly higher inpatient mortality (7.72% vs 6.90%, P = 0.225). The most common arrythmia was atrial fibrillation ([AF]26.83%) followed by ventricular tachycardia (22.86%). Trends in mortality associated with arrhythmias following heart transplant has been decreasing from 12.3% in 1999 to 8.9% in 2014 (P = 0.04). Subgroup analysis of ventricular arrythmias (VA) following heart transplant were associated with increased mortality (8.61% vs 6.94%, P = 0.0229). Over half of patients develop 1 or more cardiac arrhythmia after heart transplant. There is an increasing secular trend in the frequency of arrhythmias post cardiac transplant with atrial fibrillation determined to be the most common arrhythmia.

Subacute groin complications related to ECMO cannulation are associated with longer hospitalizations.

Subacute groin complications associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation are well recognized, yet their effects on clinical outcomes remain unknown. This single-center, retrospective study reviewed all patients receiving venoarterial ECMO from 01/2017 to 02/2020. Cohorts analyzed included transplanted patients (TPs) and non-transplanted patients (N-TPs) who did or did not develop ECMO-related subacute groin complications. Standard descriptive statistics were used for comparisons. Logistic regressions identified associated risk factors. Overall, 82/367 (22.3%) ECMO patients developed subacute groin complications, including 25/82 (30.5%) seromas/lymphoceles, 32/82 (39.0%) hematomas, 18/82 (22.0%) infections, and 7/82 (8.5%) non-specified collections. Of these, 20/82 (24.4%) underwent surgical interventions, most of which were muscle flaps (14/20, 70.0%). TPs had a higher incidence of subacute groin complications than N-TPs (14/28, 50.0% vs. 68/339, 20.1%, P = 0.001). Seromas/lymphoceles more often developed in TPs than N-TPs (10/14, 71.4% vs. 15/68, 22.1%, P = 0.001). Most patients with subacute groin complications survived to discharge (60/68, 88.2%). N-TPs who developed subacute groin complications had longer post-ECMO lengths of stay than those who did not (34 days, IQR 16-53 days vs. 17 days, IQR 8-34 days, P < 0.001). Post-ECMO length of stay was also longer among patients who underwent related surgical interventions compared to those who did not (50 days, IQR 35-67 days vs. 29 days, IQR 16-49 days, P = 0.007). Transplantation was the strongest risk factor for developing subacute groin complications (OR 3.91, CI95% 1.52-10.04, P = 0.005). Subacute groin complications and related surgical interventions are common after ECMO cannulation and are associated with longer hospital stays. When surgical management is warranted, muscle flaps may reduce lengths of stay compared to other surgical interventions.

Beta-blockers and Ambulatory Inotropic Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Continuous infusion of ambulatory inotropic therapy (AIT) is increasingly used in patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). There is a paucity of data concerning the concomitant use of beta-blockers (BB) in these patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients discharged from our institution on AIT. The cohort was stratified into 2 groups based on BB use. The 2 groups were compared for differences in hospitalizations due to HF, ventricular arrhythmias and ICD therapies (shock or antitachycardia pacing). RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2017, 349 patients were discharged on AIT (95% on milrinone); 74% were males with a mean age of 61 ± 14 years. BB were used in 195 (56%) patients, whereas 154 (44%) did not receive these medications. Patients in the BB group had longer duration of AIT support compared to those in the non-BB group (141 [1-2114] vs 68 [1-690] days). After adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics and indication for AIT, patients in the BB group had significantly lower rates of hospitalizations due to HF (hazard ratio [HR] 0.61 (0.43-0.86); P = 0.005), ventricular arrhythmias (HR 0.34 [0.15-0.74]; P = 0.007) and ICD therapies (HR 0.24 [0.07-0.79]; P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In patients with end-stage HF on AIT, the use of BB with inotropes was associated with fewer hospitalizations due to HF and fewer ventricular arrhythmias.

Trends, Prevalence, and Outcomes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Post Cardiac Transplant: A Nationwide 16-Year Study.

Heart transplantation is the most effective long-term therapy for end-stage heart disease. There is limited data related to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in postheart transplant recipients. We aimed to describe the trends, and rate of SCA following heart transplantation and thereby identify clinical predictors as well as outcomes of SCA in patients post-transplant. We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) with administrative codes for SCA and heart transplant. We assessed baseline differences between SCA and non-SCA admissions, with hazard ratios adjusted for age, gender, CCI, and race. Multivariable logistic regression models were generated to identify the independent predictors for SCA. There was a total of 30,020 hospitalizations of heart transplant recipients between 1999 and 2014 in the United States and among these 1,953 patients (6.5%) suffered SCA with an increasing trend of admissions for SCA. Among the patients who suffered from SCA, 18.83% died during the same hospitalization, 19.29% were discharged to a long-term facility, and 61.38% were discharged home. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that conduction system disorders (Hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]; 7.1 [4.5-11.1]), female gender (HR:1.2 [1.1-1.3]), diabetes (HR:1.4 [1.2-1.6]), and hypertension (HR:1.2 [1.1-1.4]) were the strongest predictors for SCA. SCA hospitalizations occur in 6.5% of patients post cardiac transplant and have been increasing from 1999 to 2014. Conduction block, graft rejection, female gender, hypertension, diabetes are independent predictors for SCA in heart transplant recipients.

Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Dimension and Clinical Outcomes After Centrifugal Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

The impact of preoperative end-diastolic left ventricular dimension (preLVEDD) on long-term outcomes with centrifugal continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) is not well established. Accordingly, we performed an analysis of the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) registry to study this relationship. All patients with centrifugal CF-LVAD in the INTERMACS registry from June 2006 to December 2017 were screened. The final study group consisted of 3,304 patients. After a median follow-up of 9.0 months (interquartile range [IQR], 4.2-18.8 months), 2,596 (79%) patients were alive. After adjusting for significant covariates, increased preLVEDD was associated with lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.98; p = 0.01), stroke (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.93; p < 0.001), and gastrointestinal bleeding (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.97; p = 0.01), although there were more arrhythmias (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.24; p = 0.003). Our study suggests that preLVEDD is an independent predictor of mortality and adverse events in patients treated with centrifugal CF-LVAD. preLVEDD should be considered an important preimplant variable for risk stratification when considering a CF-LVAD.

Ex Vivo Assessment of Different Oral Anticoagulant Regimens on Pump Thrombosis in a HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device.

BACKGROUND: In light of decreased intracranial hemorrhage with direct oral anticoagulants and concerns about their safety in continuous flow left ventricular assist devices, we conducted an ex vivo study of thrombus formation using multiple anticoagulation agents. METHODS: A continuous flow left ventricular assist device (HeartWare ventricular assist device) hemocompatibility loop was run using human blood under 7 conditions: control (no anticoagulation or antiplatelet); in vitro addition of aspirin; in vitro addition of apixaban at low dose (equivalent 2.5 mg twice daily); addition of apixaban at high dose (equivalent 5 mg twice daily); patients on warfarin; patients on apixaban (5 mg twice daily); and patients on dabigatran (150 mg twice daily). The primary outcome was time to formation of intrapump thrombosis. Secondary outcomes were reduction in clotting times over 1 hour, hemolysis, reduced platelet aggregation, and von Willebrand activity. RESULTS: Twenty-one runs were completed. Times to thrombosis in median (interquartile range) were control, 131 (127-134.5); in vitro aspirin, 124 (114.5-137); and patients on dabigatran, 131 (130.5-135.5) minutes, respectively. Times in patients on warfarin were, 137 (136.5-143.5); in vitro low-dose apixaban, 141 (138.5-142); and patients on apixaban, 140 (138-142.5) minutes, respectively. No thrombus formed in the in vitro high-dose apixaban group. There were no significant differences between the individual groups. When all apixaban groups were compared with nonapixaban groups, the time to thrombosis formation was significantly longer, 143 (137-150) versus 133.5 (128.5-140) minutes, P=0.02. There were similar changes in lactate dehydrogenase levels and other secondary end points. CONCLUSIONS: In an in vitro study of anticoagulation using human blood in a mock loop with a HeartWare HVAD, we demonstrated similar thrombosis times for apixaban and warfarin. Time to clotting was longer in the combined apixaban groups compared with combined other groups, but thrombosis times between individual groups were not significantly different.

Corrigendum to: Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure Patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.15420/cfr.2019.09.].

Treatment With Impella Increases the Risk of De Novo Aortic Insufficiency Post Left Ventricular Assist Device Implant.

BACKGROUND: Impella (Abiomed Inc, Danvers, MA) is a temporary mechanical support device positioned across the aortic valve, and can be used to support patient before LVAD implantation. There are no data on the incidence of aortic insufficiency (AI) in patients supported with Impella as a bridge to durable LVAD implantation. We sought to assess the incidence of AI in patients with Impella support as a bridge to durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. METHODS: We reviewed all patients undergoing primary LVAD implantation at the University of Pennsylvania from January 2015 onward, comparing those supported with Impella as temporary mechanical support with those supported by either venoarterial extracorporeal life support or an intra-aortic balloon pump. We reviewed transthoracic echocardiography preoperatively, as well as at 1 week, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after LVAD implantation. RESULTS: A total of 215 echocardiograms were analyzed in 41 patients. Eleven patients were supported with Impella before LVAD implant-6 patients with Impella alone (5 with Impella CP, 1 with Impella 5.0) and 5 with Impella in conjunction with venoarterial extracorporeal life support (2 with Impella 2.5, 2 with Impella CP, and 1 with Impella 5.0). After LVAD implant, mild or moderate AI developed in 82% of patients supported with Impella (9 of 11) compared with 43% of those without Impella (13 of 30) (P = .038). CONCLUSIONS: Patients supported by Impella as a bridge to durable LVAD have a higher risk of developing AI. Further studies are needed to assess this risk as the use of the Impella increases.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure Patients.

The development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with heart failure is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In this article, the authors examine recent changes to the definition of PH in the setting of left heart disease (PH-LHD), and discuss its epidemiology, pathophysiology and prognosis. They also explore the complexities of diagnosing PH-LHD and the current evidence for the use of medical therapies, promising clinical trials and the role of left ventricular assist device and transplantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement thrombosis in patient supported with durable left ventricular assist device.

Aortic insufficiency (AI) is a frequent problem after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and results in increased morbidity and mortality. Advances in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) technology have resulted in this being discussed as a potential option for LVAD patients with AI. While small case series have been published, we report the first case of TAVR thrombosis in an LVAD patient. This case highlights a major diagnostic and management dilemma that should become more present if this strategy becomes more widespread.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Advanced Heart Failure: Assessment and Management of the Failing RV and LV.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH-LHD) has a significant impact on their prognosis. The purpose of this review is to explain the methods of diagnosing PH-LHD and then discuss the available therapeutic options. RECENT FINDINGS: We begin by examining the methods of assessment of PH-LHD-echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and right heart catheterization-with a particular focus on the importance of accurate measurement to ensure the proper determination of PH-LHD. We then focus primarily on management of PH-LHD, with an examination of trials of therapeutic options, use of mechanical circulatory support, and transplantation. This review highlights the complexities in diagnosis and management of PH-LHD. We outline a number of useful ways to maximize the yield of diagnostic testing, as well as give suggestions on the use of medical therapies, the role of both temporary mechanical support and left ventricular assist device, and finally the ways to best bridge these patients to transplantation.