Effectiveness of mechanical circulatory support devices in reversing pulmonary hypertension among heart transplant candidates: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) poses a significant challenge in the selection of candidates for heart transplantation, impacting their eligibility and post-transplant outcomes. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, particularly left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), have emerged as a therapeutic option to manage PH in this patient population. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MCS devices in reversing fixed pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify studies that evaluated the effectiveness of MCS devices in reversing fixed pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates. Data on pulmonary vascular resistance, PH reversal, heart transplant eligibility, and post-transplant outcomes were extracted and synthesized. RESULTS: The review included studies that demonstrated the potential of MCS devices, especially LVADs, to significantly reduce pulmonary vascular resistance and reverse fixed pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates. These findings suggest that MCS devices can improve transplant eligibility and may positively impact post-transplant survival rates. However, the literature also indicates a need for further comparative studies to optimize MCS device selection and treatment protocols. CONCLUSION: MCS devices, particularly LVADs, play a crucial role in the management of fixed pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates, improving their eligibility for transplantation and potentially enhancing post-transplant outcomes. Future research should focus on comparative effectiveness studies to guide clinical decision-making and optimize patient care in this challenging clinical scenario.

In-Hospital Outcome of Patients with Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction: Results from Royal Hospital Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Registry, Oman.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is still the leading cause of in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to determine the in-hospital mortality and clinical outcome in AMI patients presenting with CS in a tertiary hospital in Oman. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients admitted to the cardiology department between January 2013 and December 2014. A purposive sampling technique was used, and 63 AMI patients with CS admitted to (36.5%) or transferred from a regional hospital (63.5%) were selected for the study. RESULTS: Of 63 patients, 73% (n = 46) were Omani and 27% (n = 17) were expatriates: 79% were male and 21% were female. The mean age of patients was 60±12 years. The highest incidence of CS (30%) was observed in the 51-60 year age group. Diabetes mellitus (43%) and hypertension (40%) were the predominant risk factors. Ninety-two percent of patients had ST-elevation MI, 58.7% patients were thrombolysed, and 8% had non-ST-elevation MI. Three-quarters (75%) of CS patients had severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (defined as ejection fraction <30%). Coronary angiogram showed single vessel disease in 17%, double vessel disease in 40%, and triple vessel disease in 32% and left main disease in 11%. The majority of the patients (93.6%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), among them 23 (36.5%) underwent primary PCI. In-hospital mortality was 52.4% in this study. CONCLUSIONS: CS in AMI patients presenting to a tertiary hospital in Oman have high in-hospital mortality despite the majority undergoing PCI. Even though the in-hospital mortality is comparable to other studies and registries, there is an urgent need to determine the causes and find any remedies to provide better care for such patients, specifically concentrating on the early transfer of patients from regional hospitals for early PCI.