Abordaje mínimamente invasivo para la asistencia biventricular con bombas centrífugas: primera experiencia en España / Minimally invasive approach for biventricular assist device with centrifugal pump: first experience in Spain

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Surgical technique modifies the postoperative atrioventricular block rate in sutureless prostheses.

BACKGROUND: The main objective was to analyse the impact of the modification of the Perceval S implantation technique on the prevalence of postoperative atrioventricular block, which requires a permanent pacemaker, in our aortic valve replacement series. In addition, we attempted to identify those risk factors that are related to the appearance of this complication. METHODS: Five hundred and seventy-two valve replacements were carried out with PERCEVAL S in our centre up to July 2018. Use of modified technique (n=302). Minimally invasive approach (n=340). Associated coronary surgery (n=95). Patients with pacemakers prior to surgery (n=27) and associated mitral or tricuspid valve surgery (n=26) were excluded. We analysed variables of interest that could influence the increase in postoperative atrioventricular block. Technique performed, disorders of intraventricular conduction and pre/intraoperative characteristics. The influence of the modified technique was analysed. RESULTS: Five hundred and nineteen aortic valve replacements with PERCEVAL S. Age (years) (median 77, interquartile range 8). Height (cm) (159, 13.5). Euroscore II (%) (2.25, 2.27). Postoperative atrioventricular block standard technique (n=23, 10.14%). Modified technique (n=14, 4.30%) (P=0.009). Multivariate regression analysis. Final model AUC =0.740, maximum model AUC =0.774 (P>0.05). Includes: Technique used (P=0.024), height (P=0.043) and disorders of interventricular conduction, right bundle branch block (P=0.005), trifascicular block (P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the modified technique significantly decreases the incidence of postoperative atrioventricular block that requires a permanent pacemaker in the aortic valve replacement with PERCEVAL S. The prior electrocardiographic presence of right bundle branch block, trifascicular block and the height of the patient are associated with an increased risk of blocking.

In-hospital postoperative infection after heart transplantation: Risk factors and development of a novel predictive score.

INTRODUCTION: Infection is one of the most significant complications following heart transplantation (HT). The aim of this study was to identify specific risk factors for early postoperative infections in HT recipients, and to develop a multivariable predictive model to identify HT recipients at high risk. METHODS: A single-center, observational, and retrospective study was conducted. The dependent variable was in-hospital postoperative infection. We examined demographic and epidemiological data from donors and recipients, surgical features, and adverse postoperative events as independent variables. Backwards, stepwise multivariable logistic regression with a P-value < 0.05 was used to identify clinical factors independently associated with the risk of in-hospital postoperative infections following HT. RESULTS: Six hundred seventy-seven patients were included in this study. During the in-hospital postoperative period, 348 episodes of infection were diagnosed in 239 (35.9%) patients. Seven variables were identified as independent clinical predictors of early postoperative infection after HT: history of diabetes mellitus, previous sternotomy, preoperative mechanical ventilation, primary graft failure, major surgical bleeding, use of mycophenolate mofetil, and use of itraconazole. Based on the results of multivariable models, we constructed a 7-variable (8-point) score to predict the risk of in-hospital postoperative infection in HT recipients, which showed a reasonable ability to predict the risk of in-hospital postoperative infection in this population. Prospective external validation of this new score is warranted to confirm its clinical applicability. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital postoperative infection is a common complication after HT, affecting 35% of patients who underwent this procedure at our institution. Diabetes mellitus, previous sternotomy, preoperative mechanical ventilation, primary graft failure, major surgical bleeding, use of mycophenolate mofetil, and itraconazole were all independent clinical predictors of early postoperative infection after HT.

Late graft failure in heart transplant recipients: incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes.

AIM: To analyse the incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of late graft failure after heart transplantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted an observational, single-centre study based on 547 patients who underwent cardiac transplantation from 1991 to 2014 and who survived the in-hospital postoperative period. Late graft failure was defined as the first hospitalization due to this condition after discharge. Over a mean follow-up of 8.4 ± 6 years, 178 (32.5%) patients were hospitalized due to late graft failure [incidence rate: 3.6 cases per 100 patient-years, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1-4.2]. Pre-transplant diabetes, higher pre-transplant transpulmonary pressure gradient and lower donor-recipient weight ratio were independently associated with higher risk of graft failure. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy, cellular rejection grade ≥1R, and antibody-mediated rejection grade ≥1 were detected in 50.6%, 44.9% and 19.2% patients, respectively, admitted due to graft failure. Left ventricular ejection fraction was ≥50% in 60.1% of these patients. Re-transplant free survival 1, 5, 10 and 15 years after the diagnosis of late graft failure was 72.2%, 38.4%, 18.4%, and 7.5%, respectively; the incidence rate of re-hospitalization due to decompensated heart failure was 40.9 episodes per 100 patient-years (95% CI 36.6-46.1). The need for inotropes, the presence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, higher creatinine serum levels, lower ejection fraction and lower sodium serum levels were independent predictors of worse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Late graft failure is frequent after heart transplantation, as it is associated with poor outcomes. Rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy are the most frequent underlying causes.

Pitx2c is reactivated in the failing myocardium and stimulates myf5 expression in cultured cardiomyocytes.

BACKGROUND: Pitx2 (paired-like homeodomain 2 transcription factor) is crucial for heart development, but its role in heart failure (HF) remains uncertain. The present study lays the groundwork implicating Pitx2 signalling in different modalities of HF. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A variety of molecular, cell-based, biochemical, and immunochemical assays were used to evaluate: (1) Pitx2c expression in the porcine model of diastolic HF (DHF) and in patients with systolic HF (SHF) due to dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy, and (2) molecular consequences of Pitx2c expression manipulation in cardiomyocytes in vitro. In pigs, the expression of Pitx2c, physiologically downregulated in the postnatal heart, is significantly re-activated in left ventricular (LV) failing myocardium which, in turn, is associated with increased expression of a restrictive set of Pitx2 target genes. Among these, Myf5 was identified as the top upregulated gene. In vitro, forced expression of Pitx2c in cardiomyocytes, but not in skeletal myoblasts, activates Myf5 in dose-dependent manner. In addition, we demonstrate that the level of Pitx2c is upregulated in the LV-myocardium of SHF patients. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results provide previously unrecognized evidence that Pitx2c is similarly reactivated in postnatal/adult heart at distinct HF phenotypes and suggest that Pitx2c is involved, directly or indirectly, in the regulation of Myf5 expression in cardiomyocytes.