Graft function and incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in donation after circulatory-determined death heart transplant recipients.

Experience in donation after circulatory-determined death (DCD) heart transplantation (HTx) is expanding. There is limited information on the functional outcomes of DCD HTx recipients. We sought to evaluate functional outcomes in our cohort of DCD recipients. We performed a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study comparing outcomes in consecutive DCD and donation after brain death (DBD) HTx recipients between 2015 and 2019. Primary outcome was allograft function by echocardiography at 12 and 24 months. Secondary outcomes included incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, treated rejection, renal function, and survival. Seventy-seven DCD and 153 DBD recipients were included. There was no difference in left ventricular ejection fraction at 12 months (59% vs 59%, P = .57) and 24 months (58% vs 58%, P = .87). There was no significant difference in right ventricular function at 12 and 24 months. Unadjusted survival between DCD and DBD recipients at 5 years (85.7% DCD and 81% DBD recipients; P = .45) was similar. There were no significant differences in incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (odds ratio 1.59, P = .21, 95% confidence interval 0.77-3.3) or treated rejection (odds ratio 0.60, P = .12, 95% confidence interval 0.32-1.15) between DBD and DCD recipients. Post-transplant renal function was similar at 1 and 2 years. In conclusion, cardiac allografts from DCD donors perform similarly to a contemporary population of DBD allografts in the medium term.

Comparing Cardiac Mechanics and Myocardial Fibrosis in DBD and DCD Heart Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation (HTx) after donation after circulatory death (DCD) is an expanding practice but is associated with increased warm ischemic time. The impact of DCD HTx on cardiac mechanics and myocardial fibrosis has not been reported. We aimed to compare cardiac mechanics and myocardial fibrosis using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in donation after brain death (DBD) and DCD HTx recipients and healthy controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive HTx recipients between March 2015 and March 2021 who underwent routine surveillance CMR imaging were included. Cardiac mechanics were assessed using CMR feature tracking to compute global longitudinal strain, global circumferential strain, and right ventricular free-wall longitudinal myocardial strain. Fibrosis was assessed using late gadolinium enhancement imaging and estimation of extracellular volume. There were 82 (DBD n = 42, DCD n = 40) HTx recipients (aged 53 years, interquartile range 41-59 years, 24% female) who underwent CMR imaging at median of 9 months (interquartile range 6-14 months) after transplantation. HTx recipients had increased extracellular volume (29.7 ± 3.6%) compared with normal ranges (25.9%, interquartile range 25.4-26.5). Myocardial strain was impaired after transplantation compared with controls (global longitudinal strain -12.6 ± 3.1% vs -17.2 ± 1.8%, P < .0001; global circumferential strain -16.9 ± 3.1% vs -19.2 ± 2.0%, P = .002; right ventricular free-wall longitudinal strain -15.7 ± 4.5% vs -21.6 ± 4.7%, P < .0001). There were no differences in fibrosis burden (extracellular volume 30.6 ± 4.4% vs 29.2 ± 3.2%; P = .39) or cardiac mechanics (global longitudinal strain -13.1 ± 3.0% vs -12.1 ± 3.1%, P = .14; global circumferential strain -17.3 ± 2.9% vs -16.6 ± 3.1%, P = .27; right ventricular free-wall longitudinal strain -15.9 ± 4.9% vs -15.5 ± 4.1%, P = .71) between DCD and DBD HTx. CONCLUSIONS: HTx recipients have impaired cardiac mechanics compared with controls, with increased myocardial fibrosis. There were no differences in early CMR imaging characteristics between DBD and DCD heart transplants, providing further evidence that DCD and DBD HTx outcomes are comparable.

Incidence and outcomes of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease after 5365 solid-organ transplants over a 20-year period at two UK transplant centres.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a life-threatening complication of solid-organ transplantation (SOT). We present the incidence and outcomes of PTLD in a cohort of 5365 SOT recipients over a 20-year period at two UK transplant centres. With a median follow-up of 7.7 years, 142 of 5365 patients have developed PTLD. Cumulative incidence was 18% at five years after multivisceral transplant and 1%-3% at five years following the other SOT types. Twenty-year cumulative incidence was 2%-3% following liver and heart transplantation and 10% following kidney transplantation. Median overall survival (OS) following SOT was 16 years, which is significantly reduced compared with the age-adjusted UK population. There is relatively high early mortality following diagnosis of PTLD and only patients surviving two years regained a longer-term survival approaching the non-PTLD SOT cohort. Of 90 patients with monomorphic PTLD, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 66 were treated with first-line rituximab monotherapy and 24 received first-line rituximab plus chemotherapy. Up-front rituximab monotherapy does not appear to compromise OS, but the number of patients dying from non-lymphoma causes before and after treatment remains high with both treatment approaches. Multivariate analysis of all 90 monomorphic PTLD patients identified an International Prognostic Index (IPI) of 3+ as the strongest pretreatment variable associating with inferior one-year OS.

An updated systematic review on heart failure treatments for patients with renal impairment: the tide is not turning.

Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently aggravates heart failure (HF). However, these patients have inherently been excluded from most HF trials. We aim to provide updated estimates of the representation of patients with advanced CKD and the provision of baseline renal function indices in HF trials with a focused interest on the landmark trials. Updated systematic review was performed from the inception of MEDLINE to 31 December 2019 to identify all chronic HF randomized trials published in the three major cardiology and medical journals, respectively, which included mortality endpoint. The included studies were analysed based on the representativeness of the advanced CKD population and the reporting of baseline renal function. A total of 187 eligible randomized trials with 322,374 participants were included in our analysis. One hundred and six trials (56.7%) had exclusion criteria related to renal function, which remained a continuing trend-55.1% (27/49) from inception-2000, 53.4% (39/73) from 2001-2010 and 61.5% (40/65) from 2011 (P = 0.64). The exclusion criteria, however, have become less restrictive. There was a temporal improvement in the likelihood of HF trials in providing baseline renal function indices (28.6% from inception-2000 versus 53.4% from 2001-2010 and 83.1% from 2011, P < 0.001). Concordant findings were observed in the landmark trials. Patients with advanced CKD remain underrepresented in HF trials in the contemporary era, even though the exclusion criteria have become less restrictive, and the quality of renal function monitoring has improved. The continued underrepresentation of patients with advanced CKD in HF trials merits measured broadening of eligibility in further trial studies.

Validation of predicted heart mass equations by measurement of donor heart mass at time of heart transplantation.

Predicted heart mass (PHM) equations may be used in donor-recipient size matching in heart transplantation. We compared PHM and actual heart mass in 25 consecutive DBD heart transplants. There was a moderate positive correlation between actual heart mass and PHM. There was a similar moderate correlation between actual heart mass and donor weight or donor body surface area but not donor height. PHM was lower than actual heart mass for all donor hearts. Bland-Altman analysis showed a systematic bias between PHM and actual heart mass, with a mean difference of 190.9 ± 66.4 g. The utility of PHM equations is likely to be part of a multi-parametric assessment of the relative differences between donor and recipient, so the absolute difference is likely to be unimportant.

Size matching in heart transplantation: Is predicted heart mass the optimal method in a United Kingdom cohort?

Predicted heart mass (PHM) equations have been proposed as an alternative method for size matching in heart transplantation. We assessed association between donor-recipient size mismatch, defined using PHM equations, and survival post-heart transplant in the United Kingdom. Data from all adult patients who received a heart transplant between 1995 and 2017 were obtained from the United Kingdom Transplant Registry. PHM was calculated using published equations. Primary outcome was 1-year survival post-heart transplantation. Recipients of undersized organs had reduced 1-year survival (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.03-1.67, p = .03). Oversizing had no impact on survival (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.78-1.26, p = .96). Gender mismatching had no impact on survival in the cohort matched by PHM (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.86-1.47, p = .4). In recipients without pulmonary hypertension, undersizing by PHM had no impact on 1-year survival (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.61-1.49, p = .83). In recipients with pulmonary hypertension, oversizing donor RV by using PHM RV equation (PHMRV ) results in improved survival at 1 year (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.5-0.83, p = .001). In conclusion, receiving an organ undersized by PHM was associated with decreased 1-year survival. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that undersizing only impacted survival in recipients with pulmonary hypertension and that these recipients had improved outcomes if they received an organ with an RV oversized by >10% by PHMRV .

Low Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility Index Is Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Ambulatory Patients With Advanced Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: The pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) is a composite measure of right heart function, and low PAPi is associated with increased likelihood of mortality in patients hospitalized with cardiogenic shock. Our aim was to determine how PAPi correlates with other measures of right heart function and whether PAPi is associated with outcomes in ambulatory outpatients with advanced heart failure. METHODS: We assessed 673 consecutive ambulatory outpatients for heart transplantation over 10 years. The median age was 52 years, 72% were male, and dilated cardiomyopathy was the most common cause. All patients underwent detailed assessment, including right heart catheterization, and PAPi was calculated. The coprimary endpoints were death, urgent heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support. RESULTS: Median PAPi was 2.2 (interquartile range 1.42-3.62), and variation was predominantly due to variation in right atrial pressure. PAPi was well correlated with the right atrial pressure to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio (rho -0.766) but less well correlated with the right ventricular stroke work index (rho 0.561) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (rho 0.292). Patients in the lowest PAPi quartile (0.16-1.41) had lower event-free survival at 1 year (68.7%) and 3 years (45.6%) compared with all other PAPi quartiles (log rank P = 0.0286). CONCLUSIONS: PAPi offers a composite measure of right heart function that differs from other right heart catheter or echocardiographic measures. A PAPi of less than 1.41 is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in ambulatory outpatients with advanced heart failure.

Transfer of Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Using Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES: The authors describe the experience of patient transfer on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) used as a salvage therapy for refractory cardiogenic shock, examining feasibility and long-term outcomes. DESIGN: A retrospective case series. SETTING: A tertiary referral cardiothoracic transplantation center. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Since 2012, the authors' multidisciplinary team has traveled to the referring center of 15 patients referred with refractory cardiogenic shock. Of these, 13 were instituted on VA ECMO support (8 peripheral and 5 central) and subsequently transferred to the authors' center. A further 11 patients were transferred to the authors' institution by the referring team, already having been placed on VA-ECMO (8 peripheral and 3 central). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All patients were safely transferred. The distance travelled ranged from 16 to 341 miles. The median duration of support on VA-ECMO was 4 days, ranging from 1 to 24 days. The VA-ECMO support was weaned, or the patient underwent a definitive surgical management (including 4 undergoing cardiac transplantation and 3 pulmonary endarterectomy) in 15 (62.5%) patients. The median intensive care unit stay was 15 days (range 1-109). Overall 30-day survival for this patient cohort was 69.6% with 1-year survival of 59.8%. For patients who were weaned from VA-ECMO, the 30-day survival was 100% and 1-year survival 92.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' experience demonstrates the feasibility and survival benefit of a salvage VA-ECMO retrieval service for carefully selected patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. The authors suggest that a system based on the model of nationally commissioned severe respiratory failure services could be organized to support the transfer of these patients.

Very long-term survival and late sudden cardiac death in cardiac resynchronization therapy patients.

AIMS: The very long-term outcome of patients who survive the first few years after receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has not been well described thus far. We aimed to provide long-term outcomes, especially with regard to the occurrence of sudden cardiac death (SCD), in CRT patients without (CRT-P) and with defibrillator (CRT-D). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 1775 patients, with ischaemic or non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy, who were alive 5 years after CRT implantation, were enrolled in this multicentre European observational cohort study. Overall long-term mortality rates and specific causes of death were assessed, with a focus on late SCD. Over a mean follow-up of 30 months (interquartile range 10-42 months) beyond the first 5 years, we observed 473 deaths. The annual age-standardized mortality rates of CRT-D and CRT-P patients were 40.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 35.3-45.5] and 97.2 (95% CI 85.5-109.9) per 1000 patient-years, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was 0.99 (95% CI 0.79-1.22). Twenty-nine patients in total died of late SCD (14 with CRT-P, 15 with CRT-D), corresponding to 6.1% of all causes of death in both device groups. Specific annual SCD rates were 8.5 and 5.8 per 1000 patient-years in CRT-P and CRT-D patients, respectively, with no significant difference between groups (adjusted HR 1.0, 95% CI 0.45-2.44). Death due to progressive heart failure represented the principal cause of death (42.8% in CRT-P patients and 52.6% among CRT-D recipients), whereas approximately one-third of deaths in both device groups were due to non-cardiovascular death. CONCLUSION: In this first description of very long-term outcomes among CRT recipients, progressive heart failure death still represented the most frequent cause of death in patients surviving the first 5 years after CRT implant. In contrast, SCD represents a very low proportion of late mortality irrespective of the presence of a defibrillator.

Intravascular ultrasound of the proximal left anterior descending artery is sufficient to detect early cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) can be detected early with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), but there is limited information on the most efficient imaging protocol. METHODS: Coronary angiography and IVUS of the three coronary arteries were performed. Volumetric IVUS analysis was performed, and a Stanford grade determined for each vessel. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were included 18 (range 12-24) months after transplantation. Angiographic CAV severity ranged from none (CAV0) to mild (CAV1), whereas IVUS CAV severity ranged from none (Stanford grade I) to severe (grade IV). Maximal intimal thickness measured with IVUS was significantly greater in the LAD (0.84 ± 0.48 mm) than in the LCX (0.46 ± 0.32 mm) or the RCA (0.53 ± 0.41 mm, P = .005). Diagnostic accuracy of IVUS in the left anterior descending artery was 100% (18 of 18 Stanford grades matched the patient's highest overall Stanford grade), 66% in the right coronary artery (12 of 18), and 56% in the left circumflex artery (11 of 18). The minimal required length of left anterior descending artery pullbacks to attain 100% accuracy was 36 mm (range 3-36 mm) distal from the guide catheter ostium. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that focal IVUS imaging of the proximal LAD followed by volumetric analysis may suffice when screening for transplant vasculopathy.

Retained pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator components after heart transplantation are common and may lead to adverse events.

Aims: Many patients have a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) extracted at the time of heart transplantation. CIED components may be retained after heart transplantation, but their frequency, nature, and clinical significance is uncertain. Methods and results: Consecutive patients that underwent heart transplantation over 10 years from 1 January 2007 until 1 January 2017 were identified from the unit database. Pre- and post-operative chest radiographs were reviewed by two independent observers for the presence of CIED components. Adverse events relating to any retained CIED component were recorded. Two hundred and six patients had a CIED removed at the time of transplantation. Retained CIED components were present in 86 (42%) patients. The most common retained CIED components were suture sleeves and superior vena cava (SVC) coils of dual coil implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads. An SVC coil was retained in 25% of patients that had a dual coil ICD lead. Seven adverse events were associated with CIED removal or retained CIED components, including one fatal event. However, retained CIED components were not associated with reduced long-term survival after heart transplantation. Conclusion: Retained CIED components were seen in 42% of patients that had a CIED prior to transplantation, may be associated with serious adverse events but are not associated with reduced long-term survival. Cardiac surgeons should be aware of all CIED system components and be familiar with techniques for their complete removal at the time of transplantation.

How many patients fulfil the surface electrocardiogram criteria for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation?

AIMS: To determine the number of patients with a primary or secondary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) indication who are eligible for subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) implantation according to the S-ICD manufacturer's surface electrocardiogram (ECG) screening template. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-six ICD patients with a non-paced ventricle were assessed using erect and supine ECG limb lead recordings to simulate the three S-ICD sensing vectors. Each ECG lead was scrutinized by two independent observers. Subcutaneous ICD eligibility required two or more leads to satisfy the S-ICD screening template in both erect and supine positions. Overall, 85.2% of patients [95% confidence interval (CI): 80.2-90.2%] fulfilled surface ECG screening criteria. The proportion of patients with 3, 2, 1, and 0 qualifying leads were 37.2% (95% CI: 30.4-44.0%), 48.0% (95% CI: 41.0-55.0%), 11.2% (95% CI: 6.8-15.6%), and 3.6% (95% CI: 1.0-6.2%). The S-ICD screening template was satisfied more often by Lead III (primary vector, 83.7%, 95% CI: 78.5-88.9%) and Lead II (secondary vector, 82.7%, 95% CI: 77.4-88.0%) compared with Lead I (alternate vector, 52.6%, 95% CI: 45.6-59.6%). A prolonged QRS duration was the only baseline characteristic independently associated with ineligibility for S-ICD implantation. There was 92.9% agreement between the two independent observers in assessment of eligibility using the S-ICD screening template. CONCLUSION: About 85.2% of patients with an indication for a primary or secondary prevention ICD have a surface ECG that is suitable for S-ICD implantation when assessed with an S-ICD screening template. There is minor inter-observer variation in assessment of eligibility using the S-ICD screening template.

Measuring congestion with a non-invasive monitoring device in heart failure and haemodialysis: CONGEST-HF.

AIMS: We examined the effectiveness of a novel cardiopulmonary management wearable sensor (worn for less than 5 mins) at measuring congestion and correlated the device findings with established clinical measures of congestion. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled three cohorts of patients: (1) patients with heart failure (HF) receiving intravenous diuretics in hospital; (2) patients established on haemodialysis, and (3) HF patients undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC). The primary outcomes in the respective cohorts were a Spearman correlation between (1) change in weight and change in thoracic impedance (TI) (from enrolment, 24 h after admission to discharge) in patients hospitalized for HF; (2) lung ultrasound B-lines and volume removed during dialysis with device measured TI, and (3) pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and sub-acoustic diastolic, third heart sound (S3) in the patients undergoing RHC. A total of 66 patients were enrolled. In HF patients (n = 25), change in weight was correlated with both change in device TI (Spearman correlation [rsp] = -0.64, p = 0.002) and change in device S3 (rsp = -0.53, p = 0.014). In the haemodialysis cohort (n = 21), B-lines and TI were strongly correlated before (rsp = -0.71, p < 0.001) and after (rsp = -0.77, p < 0.001) dialysis. Volume of fluid removed by dialysis was correlated with change in device TI (rsp = 0.49, p = 0.024). In the RHC cohort (n = 20), PCWP measured at one time point and device S3 were not significantly correlated (rsp = 0.230, p = 0.204). There were no device-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: A non-invasive device was able to detect changes in congestion in patients with HF receiving decongestion therapy and patients having fluid removed at haemodialysis. The cardiopulmonary management device, which measures multiple parameters, is a potentially useful tool to monitor patients with HF to prevent hospitalizations.

British societies guideline on the management of emergencies in implantable left ventricular assist device recipients in transplant centres.

An implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is indicated as a bridge to transplantation or recovery in the United Kingdom (UK). The mechanism of action of the LVAD results in a unique state of haemodynamic stability with diminished arterial pulsatility. The clinical assessment of an LVAD recipient can be challenging because non-invasive blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation measurements may be hard to obtain. As a result of this unusual situation and complex interplay between the device and the native circulation, resuscitation of LVAD recipients requires bespoke guidelines. Through collaboration with key UK stakeholders, we assessed the current evidence base and developed guidelines for the recognition of clinical deterioration, inadequate circulation and time-critical interventions. Such guidelines, intended for use in transplant centres, are designed to be deployed by those providing immediate care of LVAD patients under conditions of precipitous clinical deterioration. In summary, the Joint British Societies and Transplant Centres LVAD Working Group present the UK guideline on management of emergencies in implantable LVAD recipients for use in advanced heart failure centres. These recommendations have been made with a UK resuscitation focus but are widely applicable to professionals regularly managing patients with implantable LVADs.

Standalone balloon aortic valvuloplasty: indications and outcomes from the UK in the transcatheter valve era.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize UK-wide balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) experience in the TAVI era. BACKGROUND: BAV for acquired calcific aortic stenosis is in a phase of renaissance, largely due to the development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS: Data from 423 patients at 14 centers across the UK were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients were aged 80.9 ± 9.5 years; 52.5% were male. Mean logistic EuroScore was 27.3% ± 16.8%. Mean peak transaortic gradient fell from 62.0 ± 26.3 to 28.3 ± 16.2 mm Hg. Aortic valve area increased from 0.58 ± 0.19 to 0.80 ± 0.25 cm(2) echocardiographically. Procedural complication rate was 6.3%, comprising death (2.4%), blood transfusion ≥ 2 U (1.2%), cardiac tamponade (1.0%), stroke (1.0%), vascular surgical repair (1.0%), coronary embolism (0.5%), and permanent pacemaker (0.2%). Mortality was 13.8% at 30 days and 36.3% at 12 months. Subsequently, 18.3% of patients underwent TAVI and 7.0% sAVR, with improved survival compared to those who had no further intervention (logrank < 0.0001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated that survival was adversely effected by the presence of coronary artery disease (HR 1.53, 95%CI 1.08-2.17, P = 0.018), poor LV function (HR 1.54, 95%CI 1.09-2.16, P = 0.014), and either urgent (HR 1.70, 95%CI 1.18-2.45; P = 0.004) or emergent presentation (HR 3.72, 95%CI 2.27-6.08; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty offers good immediate hemodynamic efficacy at an acceptable risk of major complications. Medium-term prognosis is poor in the absence of definitive therapy.

Clinical experience of subcutaneous and transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillators in children and teenagers.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) systems have no components in contact with the heart and may avoid complications such as lead fracture, venous obstruction, or endocarditis that occur with transvenous leads. Concerns have been raised regarding inappropriate shocks and pocket erosion with S-ICD systems. We have compared the performance of S-ICD and transvenous ICD systems in children and teenagers. METHODS: We studied consecutive patients <20 years of age who received an ICD over a 4-year period in two Scottish centers. Baseline characteristics, complications, and ICD therapy were recorded. The primary outcome measure was survival. The secondary outcome measure was survival-free from inappropriate ICD therapy or system revision. RESULTS: Nine S-ICD were implanted in nine patients. Eight transvenous ICD were implanted in six patients; two were redo procedures. Baseline characteristics were well matched. Median duration of follow-up was lower for S-ICD (20 months) than for transvenous ICD (36 months, P = 0.0262). Survival was 100% in both groups. Survival free of inappropriate therapy or system revision was 89% for S-ICD and 25% for transvenous ICD systems (log-rank test, P = 0.0237). No S-ICD were extracted, but three transvenous ICD were extracted due to infection (n = 1) and lead failure (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: In real-world use in children and teenagers, S-ICD may offer similar survival benefit to transvenous ICD, with a lower incidence of complications requiring reoperation. In the absence of randomized trials, S-ICD should be compared prospectively with transvenous ICD in large multicenter registries with comparable periods of follow-up.

Diagnostic quality electrocardiogram from a HeartMate 3 supported patient using a smartphone-based recording device.

Patients with implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are at risk of ventricular arrhythmias but these may be hemodynamically tolerated. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is essential to determine whether an LVAD-supported patient is experiencing a ventricular arrhythmia. Access to 12 lead ECG is predominantly in healthcare facilities. Implantable LVAD also cause significant electromagnetic interference leading to artefacts on ECG. We report a patient on Heartmate 3 LVAD with a diagnostic quality 6 lead ECG obtained with an AliveCor device during an episode of sustained palpitations. The AliveCor device may be used for remote identification of ventricular arrhythmias in LVAD patients.

Prognostic value of three iron deficiency definitions in patients with advanced heart failure.

AIMS: There is uncertainty about the definition of iron deficiency (ID) and the association between ID and prognosis in patients with advanced heart failure. We evaluated three definitions of ID in patients referred for heart transplantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients assessed for heart transplantation at a single UK centre between January 2010 and May 2022 were included. ID was defined as (1) serum ferritin concentration of <100 ng/ml, or 100-299 ng/ml with transferrin saturation <20% (guideline definition), (2) serum iron concentration ≤13 µmol/L, or (3) transferrin saturation <20%. The primary outcome measure was a composite of all-cause mortality, urgent heart transplantation or need for mechanical circulatory support. Overall, 801 patients were included, and the prevalence of ID was 39-55% depending on the definition used. ID, defined by either serum iron or transferrin saturation, was an independent predictor of the primary outcome measure (hazard ratio [HR] 1.532, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.264-1.944, and HR 1.595, 95% CI 1.323-2.033, respectively), but the same association was not seen with the guideline definition of ID (HR 1.085, 95% CI 0.8827-1.333). These findings were robust in multivariable Cox regression analysis. ID, by all definitions, was associated with lower 6-min walk distance, lower peak oxygen consumption, higher intra-cardiac filling pressures and lower cardiac output. CONCLUSIONS: Iron deficiency, when defined by serum iron concentration or transferrin saturation, was associated with increased frequency of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with advanced heart failure. The same association was not seen with guideline definition of ID.