Intracardiac Thrombus Associated With DeVega Tricuspid Valve Repair Following Heart Transplantation.

Intracardiac thrombus is a rare but treatable complication following DeVega tricuspid annuloplasty in the setting of orthotopic heart transplantation. Consistent imaging in the post-transplantation period is therefore essential for early identification and management of thromboembolic complications.

Native Aortic Valve Endocarditis Caused by Scopulariopsis Species: Case Report, Considerations for Management, and Review of Literature.

We present the first case of native aortic valve endocarditis caused by Scopulariopsis. Intraoperative images and videos from valve replacement surgery illustrate the severity of fungal endocarditis. This case demonstrates the aggressive presentation of left-sided fungal endocarditis, highlights challenges with treating highly resistant fungi, and considers the potential utility of olorofim.

International Travel for Organ Transplantation: Provider and Patient Perspectives.

Background: Organ allocation in the United States to non-US citizen, non-US residents who travel for transplant (NC/NRTx) is controversial. Current policies may not be informed by stakeholder opinions, as limited data exist assessing the knowledge or opinions of providers or patients on this issue. Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based pilot survey was distributed to providers and patients from December 2019 to June 2020 at a single large urban transplant institute. Providers were members of the departments of surgery and medicine and included both transplant and nontransplant providers. Surveys included 10 questions on eligibility, prioritization, and limitations for deceased donor transplantation and 12 demographic questions. Results: A total of 209 providers responded (61% women, median age 40) and 119 patients responded (62% women, median age 54). Awareness of eligibility for transplantation of US citizens, non-US citizens residing in the United States (NC/R), and NC/NRTx was high in both groups, though providers and patients lacked awareness of the eligibility of nonlegal NC/R (those who live in the United States who are not citizens and are not legal residents) to donate and receive organs. Overall, 79.3% of patients stated that NC/NRTx should be eligible for transplant in the United States compared with only 60.7% of providers (P = 0.001). Providers were more likely than patients to prioritize transplant to legal NC/NR over NC/NRTx (58.2% versus 35.1%, P < 000.1) and reported that families should be able to limit donations to NC/NRTx (34.9% versus 23.2%, P = 0.03). Conclusions: Surveyed patients and providers generally support transplant in non-US citizens; however, the strength of support varied considerably based on the legal status of the patient and the occupation of those surveyed. Larger studies are necessary to develop data-informed policy.

Successful Heart Transplantation Without Blood Transfusion in a Jehovah's Witness Patient With Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries: A Case Report.

We report a case of heart transplantation in a 68-year-old Jehovah's Witness patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) who developed heart failure due to right ventricular dysfunction. The patient underwent successful heart transplantation without the use of blood products, employing meticulous hemostasis and careful surgical planning. This case highlights the anatomical considerations and challenges in transplanting a heart in a patient with ccTGA, including the reversed positions of the pulmonary artery and the ascending aorta. It also emphasizes the importance of tailored surgical strategies to achieve hemostasis and avoid blood transfusion in Jehovah's Witness patients. This case adds to the limited literature on heart transplantation in patients with ccTGA and demonstrates that heart transplantation can be successfully performed without blood transfusion in Jehovah's Witness patients.

Summary of a consensus conference on heart-liver transplantation.

Patients with severe heart disease may have coexisting liver disease from various causes. The incidence of combined heart-liver transplant (CHLT) is increasing as more patients with congenital heart disease survive to adulthood and develop advanced heart failure with associated liver disease from chronic right-sided heart or Fontan failure. However, the criteria for CHLT have not been established. To address this unmet need, a virtual consensus conference was organized on June 10, 2022, endorsed by the American Society of Transplantation. The conference represented a collaborative effort by experts in cardiothoracic and liver transplantation from across the United States to assess interdisciplinary criteria for liver transplantation in the CHLT candidate, surgical considerations of CHLT, current allocation system that generally results in the liver following the heart for CHLT, and optimal post-CHLT management. The conference served as a forum to unify criteria between the different specialties and to forge a pathway for patients who may need dual organ transplantation. Due to the continuing shortage of available donor organs, ethical issues related to multiorgan transplantation were also debated. The findings and consensus statements are presented.

Redo Mitral Valve Replacement After Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement.

The rising preference for percutaneous mitral valve-in-valve replacement (ViV TMVR) over redo surgical mitral valve replacement (MVR) is primarily due to its reduced bleeding risk. This report details a bloodless redo MVR performed for mitral stenosis post-ViV TMVR. We present detailed intraoperative findings, including images of the extracted bioprosthetic valves and cardiac anatomy, providing valuable insights into the surgical complexities encountered. The case underscores the importance of meticulous planning and execution in redo MVR, especially in patients with a history of multiple valve interventions. Additionally, this report discusses the potential complications associated with ViV TMVR, contributing to the evolving understanding of this procedure's long-term outcomes. Our findings highlight the need for careful consideration of patient-specific factors and the inherent risks of redo valve surgeries, aiming to improve patient outcomes in complex cardiac cases.

Successful Heart Transplantation With Myocardial Bridging: A Case Report on Unroofing Technique.

Myocardial bridging (MB), a common anatomical variation where a segment of a coronary artery is covered by myocardium, poses a relative contraindication in heart transplantation due to the risk of post-transplant ischemia. This report presents a case of successful transplantation of a donor heart with MB, where unroofing (removal) of the myocardial bridge was performed. The donor was a 42-year-old male with mild nonobstructive coronary artery stenosis and MB. The recipient, a 55-year-old male, suffered from ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure. During transplantation, unroofing of the donor heart's MB was executed to mitigate the risk of myocardial ischemia. The transplantation was successful with preserved postoperative cardiac function. The unroofing procedure did not significantly extend ischemic or operative time. Postoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography showed no signs of myocardial ischemia. Donor hearts with MB can be utilized for transplantation with appropriate surgical intervention. This case demonstrates the potential of unroofing procedures in expanding the suitability of donor hearts for transplantation, without increasing the risk of postoperative complications or mortality.

Challenges and Insights in Managing Device-Related Thrombosis Post-WATCHMAN Implantation: A Case Report of Surgical Thrombectomy in an Elderly Jehovah's Witness Patient With Atrial Fibrillation.

The WATCHMAN device offers a viable alternative to long-term oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, particularly for high-risk patients. Despite its success, device-related thrombosis (DRT) remains a concern, potentially restricting its wider use. We present an 83-year-old female Jehovah's Witness with atrial fibrillation who, after successful WATCHMAN device implantation, suffered multiple transient ischemic attacks six months later. Initial investigation revealed a thrombus on a slightly exposed strut of the almost completely endothelialized device. Despite treatment with warfarin and rivaroxaban, urgent surgical intervention was ultimately required to remove the thrombus completely. This case illustrates the risk of thrombus formation even with minimal strut exposure and the challenges in managing DRT. It also highlights the necessity for diligent monitoring and potential reassessment of post-implantation anticoagulation protocols. Our report adds to the limited literature regarding surgical thrombectomy following WATCHMAN implantation and provides valuable insights for clinicians managing similar scenarios.

Impact of prophylactic donor heart tricuspid valve annuloplasty on outcomes in heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid regurgitation(TR) following heart transplantation could adversely affect clinical outcomes. In an effort to reduce the incidence of TR, prophylactic donor heart tricuspid valve annuloplasty has been performed during heart transplantation in our institution. We assessed early and long-term outcomes. METHODS: Between August 2011 and August 2021, 349 patients who underwent prophylactic tricuspid valve annuloplasty were included. Tricuspid valve annuloplasty was performed using the DeVega annuloplasty technique. The clinical outcomes of the interests included complete atrioventricular block requiring pacemaker implantation, the occurrence of significant TR(defined as moderate or greater), and survival. Long-term survival was compared in patients with and without significant TR using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazards regression with time-dependent covariate analysis was used to see if significant TR affected the long-term survival. RESULTS: There was one patient(0.3%) who required pacemaker implantation for complete atrioventricular block. No patients developed tricuspid valve stenosis that required intervention. Significant TR developed in 31 patients(8.9%) during the follow-up period. The survival rate of patients who developed significant TR was significantly lower than that of those who did not(log rank < 0.01). Significant TR was associated with the long-term mortality(HR2.92, 95%CI 1.47-5.82, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic donor heart tricuspid valve annuloplasty has the potential to reduce the occurrence of significant TR and can be performed safely. The significant TR that developed in patients with prophylactic annuloplasty negatively affected survival and was an independent predictor of long-term mortality.

Concomitant left atrial appendage closure during left ventricular assist device surgery can reduce ischaemic cerebrovascular accidents.

OBJECTIVES: It remains unknown if the left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) at the time of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery can reduce ischaemic cerebrovascular accidents. METHODS: Consecutive 310 patients who underwent LVAD surgery with HeartMate II or 3 between January 2012 and November 2021 were included in this study. The cohort was divided into 2 groups: patients with LAAC (group A) and without LAAC (group B). We compared the clinical outcomes including the incidence of cerebrovascular accident between 2 groups. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were included in group A, and 212 patients in group B. There were no significant differences between 2 groups in age, preoperative CHADS2 score and history of atrial fibrillation. In-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (group A: 7.1%, group B: 12.3%, P = 0.16). Thirty-seven patients (11.9%) experienced ischaemic cerebrovascular accident (5 patients in group A and 32 patients in group B). The cumulative incidence from ischaemic cerebrovascular accidents in group A (5.3% at 12 months and 5.3% at 36 months) was significantly lower than that in group B (8.2% at 12 months and 16.8% at 36 months; P = 0.017). In a multivariable competing risk analysis, LAAC was associated with reducing ischaemic cerebrovascular accidents (hazard ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.97, P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant LAAC in LVAD surgery can reduce ischaemic cerebrovascular accidents without increasing perioperative mortality and complications.

Figure of eight suture technique in aortic valve replacement decreases prosthesis-patient mismatch.

BACKGROUND: While the pledget suture technique has been the standard for surgical aortic. valve replacement (AVR), discussion continues regarding the possibility of the nonpledget suture technique to produce superior structural and hemodynamic parameters. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the figure-of-eight suture technique in AVR, as determined by the incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM). METHODS: We reviewed records of patients (N = 629) who underwent a surgical AVR procedure between January 2011 and July 2018 at a single institution. Indexed effective orifice area values and PPM incidence were calculated from implanted valve size and patient body surface area. Incidence of none, moderate, and severe PPM was compared across AVR suture techniques. RESULTS: A total of 570 pledget and 59 figure-of-eight patients were compared for incidence of PPM. Patients who received AVR with the pledget suture technique had significantly lower echocardiographic measurements of baseline ejection fraction than patients who had received AVR with the figure-of-eight suture technique (p = 0.003). Patients who received the figure-of eight suture had a 14% decrease in moderate PPM compared to patients who received the pledget suture (p = 0.022). Patients who received the figure-of-eight suture also had a significantly higher rate of no PPM (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the figure-of-eight suture technique in AVR can reduce the incidence of moderate PPM. While the pledget suture is the standard technique in AVR, the figure-of-eight suture technique may offer better structural and hemodynamic outcomes, especially for patients with a smaller aortic annulus.

Quality of Anticoagulation With Phenprocoumon and Warfarin in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients: A Multicenter Study.

VISUAL ABSTRACT: of key results. INR, international normalized ratio; TTR, time in therapeutic range; PTR, percentage of tests in range; HRAE, hemocompatibility-related adverse event; FFUV, first follow-up visit; GIB, gastrointestinal bleeding; HR, hazard ratio.http://links.lww.com/ASAIO/A961.

The prognostic role of advanced hemodynamic variables in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

BACKGROUND: Invasive hemodynamic variables obtained from right heart catheterization have been used for risk-stratifying patients with advanced heart failure (HF). However, there is a paucity of data on the prognostic value of invasive hemodynamic variables in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). We hypothesized that cardiac power output (CPO), cardiac power efficiency (CPE), and left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) can serve as prognostic markers in patients with LVADs. METHODS: Baseline hemodynamic data from patients who had LVAD ramp studies at our institution from 4/2014 to 7/2018 were prospectively collected, from which advanced hemodynamic variables (CPO, CPE, and LVSWI) were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed for hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAE), HF admissions, and mortality. RESULTS: Ninety-one participants (age 61 ± 11 years, 34% women, 40% Black or African American, and 38% ischemic cardiomyopathy) were analyzed. Low CPE was significantly associated with mortality (HR 2.42, 95% CI 1.02-5.74, p = 0.045) in univariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis (p = 0.04). Low LVSWI was significantly associated with mortality (HR 2.13, 95% CI 1.09-4.17, p = 0.03) in univariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis (p = 0.02). CPO was not associated with mortality. CPO, CPE, and LVSWI were not associated with HRAE or HF admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced hemodynamic variables can serve as prognostic indicators for patients with LVADs. Low CPE and LVSWI are prognostic for higher mortality, but no variables were associated with HF admissions or HRAEs.

Reduced immunomodulatory metabolite concentrations in peri-transplant fecal samples from heart allograft recipients.

Background: Emerging evidence is revealing the impact of the gut microbiome on hematopoietic and solid organ transplantation. Prior studies postulate that this influence is mediated by bioactive metabolites produced by gut-dwelling commensal bacteria. However, gut microbial metabolite production has not previously been measured among heart transplant (HT) recipients. Methods: In order to investigate the potential influence of the gut microbiome and its metabolites on HT, we analyzed the composition and metabolite production of the fecal microbiome among 48 HT recipients at the time of HT. Results: Compared to 20 healthy donors, HT recipients have significantly reduced alpha, i.e. within-sample, microbiota diversity, with significantly lower abundances of key anaerobic commensal bacteria and higher abundances of potentially pathogenic taxa that have been correlated with adverse outcomes in other forms of transplantation. HT recipients have a wide range of microbiota-derived fecal metabolite concentrations, with significantly reduced levels of immune modulatory metabolites such as short chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids compared to healthy donors. These differences were likely due to disease severity and prior antibiotic exposures but were not explained by other demographic or clinical factors. Conclusions: Key potentially immune modulatory gut microbial metabolites are quantifiable and significantly reduced among HT recipients compared to healthy donors. Further study is needed to understand whether this wide range of gut microbial dysbiosis and metabolite alterations impact clinical outcomes and if they can be used as predictive biomarkers or manipulated to improve transplant outcomes.

Postoperative tolvaptan use in left ventricular assist device patients: The TOLVAD randomized pilot study.

PURPOSE: Tolvaptan, a selective vasopressin type-2 antagonist, has been shown to increase serum sodium (Na) and urine output in hyponatremic left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients in retrospective studies. In this prospective randomized pilot study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of tolvaptan in this population. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, non-blinded pilot study of LVAD recipients with post-operative hyponatremia (Na < 135 mEq/L) (NCT05408104). Eligible participants were randomized to receive tolvaptan 15 mg daily in addition to usual care versus usual care alone. The primary outcome was a change in Na level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), from the first post-operative day of hyponatremia (the day of randomization) to discharge. RESULTS: A total of 33 participants were enrolled, and 28 underwent randomization (median age 55 [IQR 50-62]), 21% women, 54% Black, 32% ischemic cardiomyopathy, median baseline Na 135 (IQR 134-138). Fifteen participants were randomized to tolvaptan (TLV) and 13 were randomized to usual care alone (No-TLV). Mean change in Na from randomization to discharge in the TLV group was 2.7 mEq/L (95%CI 0.7-4.7, p = 0.013) and 1.8 (95%CI 0.5-4.0, p = 0.11) in the No-TLV group, though baseline and final Na levels were similar between groups. The mean change in eGFR was 2.6 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95%CI 10.1-15.3, p = 0.59) in TLV versus 7.5 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95%CI 5.2-20.2, p = 0.15) in No-TLV. TLV participants had significantly more urine output than No-TLV patients during their first 24 h after randomization (3294 vs 2155 ml, p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: TLV significantly increases urine output, with nominal improvement in Na level, in hyponatremic post-operative LVAD patients without adversely impacting renal function.