Management of a chronically infected left ventricular assist device with heart transplantation: Two-step simplified approach.

BACKGROUND: The surgical approach for the treatment of a left ventricular assist device with severe infection may be controversial. MATERIAL & METHODS: We present the case of a patient implanted with a HeartWare™ HVAD as a bridge to transplant and chronic infection of the device by Pseudomonas who underwent a conservative partial treatment of the driveline tunnel and subsequently a heart transplantation and device removal were done. CONCLUSIONS: The two-step simplified approach allowed the patient to be transplanted in a short period of time, with the abdominal wall healed and almost two-thirds of the driveline subcutaneous tunnel sterilized.

Características de los pacientes con supervivencia mayor de 20 años tras un trasplante cardiaco / Characteristics of patients with survival longer than 20 years following heart transplantation

Introducción y objetivos. Los receptores de trasplante cardiaco que sobreviven más de 20 años están aumentando. Poco se conoce de su seguimiento, sus comorbilidades y su mortalidad. Identificar predictores de larga supervivencia puede guiar la selección de candidatos para los donantes disponibles. Métodos. Se revisó la información sobre la clase funcional, las comorbilidades y la mortalidad de pacientes trasplantados antes de 1992. Para identificar los predictores de supervivencia > 20 años, se construyó un modelo de regresión logística utilizando las variables asociadas a supervivencia en el análisis univariable. Resultados. Se comparó a 39 supervivientes con seguimiento > 20 años (el 26% del total) con 90 pacientes que sobrevivieron entre 1 y 20 años. Las principales complicaciones fueron hipertensión, disfunción renal, infecciones y neoplasias. Tras 30 meses de seguimiento, 6 murieron, lo que implica una mortalidad del 6%/año (frente a un 2,5-3% en los años 1 a 19). Las principales causas de muerte fueron infección (50%), cáncer (33%) y vasculopatía del injerto (17%). Los supervivientes eran más jóvenes y delgados, y tenían cardiopatía no isquémica y menos isquemia en cirugía. La regresión logística identificó la edad del receptor < 45 años (odds ratio = 3,9; intervalo de confianza del 95%, 1,6-9,7; p = 0,002) y la miocardiopatía idiopática (odds ratio = 3; intervalo de confianza del 95%, 1,4-7,8; p = 0,012) como predictores independientes de supervivencia > 20 años. Conclusiones. En nuestra serie, más del 25% sobrevive más de 20 años con el mismo injerto y lleva vida independiente a pesar de las comorbilidades. La edad del receptor < 45 años y la miocardiopatía idiopática se asociaron a larga supervivencia. Estos datos pueden ayudar a la asignación de donantes (AU)

Introduction and objectives. The number of heart-transplant recipients exceeding 20 years of follow-up is steadily increasing. However, little is known about their functional status, comorbidities, and mortality. Identifying the predictors of prolonged survival could guide the selection of candidates for the low number of available donors. Methods. Functional status, morbidities, and mortality of heart-transplant patients between 1984 and 1992 were analyzed. To identify predictors of 20-year survival, a logistic regression model was constructed using the covariates associated with survival in the univariate analysis. Results. A total of 39 patients who survived 20 years (26% of patients transplanted before 1992) were compared to 90 recipients from the same period who died between 1 and 20 years post-transplantation. Major complications were hypertension, renal dysfunction, infections, and cancer. After a mean follow-up of 30 months, 6 survivors had died, yielding a mortality rate of 6% per year (vs 2.5%-3% in years 1-19). Causes of mortality were infection (50%), malignancy (33%), and allograft vasculopathy (17%). Long-term survivors were younger and leaner, and had nonischemic cardiomyopathy and lower ischemic time. Logistic regression identified recipient age <45 years (odds ratio=3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-9.7; P=.002) and idiopathic cardiomyopathy (odds ratio=3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-7.8; P=.012) as independent predictors for 20-year survival. Conclusions. One fourth of all heart-transplant patients in our series survived >20 years with the same graft, and most enjoy independent lives despite significant comorbidities. Recipient age <45 years and idiopathic cardiomyopathy were associated with survival beyond 2 decades. These data may help decide donor allocation (AU)

Characteristics of patients with survival longer than 20 years following heart transplantation.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The number of heart-transplant recipients exceeding 20 years of follow-up is steadily increasing. However, little is known about their functional status, comorbidities, and mortality. Identifying the predictors of prolonged survival could guide the selection of candidates for the low number of available donors. METHODS: Functional status, morbidities, and mortality of heart-transplant patients between 1984 and 1992 were analyzed. To identify predictors of 20-year survival, a logistic regression model was constructed using the covariates associated with survival in the univariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients who survived 20 years (26% of patients transplanted before 1992) were compared to 90 recipients from the same period who died between 1 and 20 years post-transplantation. Major complications were hypertension, renal dysfunction, infections, and cancer. After a mean follow-up of 30 months, 6 survivors had died, yielding a mortality rate of 6% per year (vs 2.5%-3% in years 1-19). Causes of mortality were infection (50%), malignancy (33%), and allograft vasculopathy (17%). Long-term survivors were younger and leaner, and had nonischemic cardiomyopathy and lower ischemic time. Logistic regression identified recipient age <45 years (odds ratio=3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-9.7; P=.002) and idiopathic cardiomyopathy (odds ratio=3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-7.8; P=.012) as independent predictors for 20-year survival. CONCLUSIONS: One fourth of all heart-transplant patients in our series survived >20 years with the same graft, and most enjoy independent lives despite significant comorbidities. Recipient age <45 years and idiopathic cardiomyopathy were associated with survival beyond 2 decades. These data may help decide donor allocation.