The left ventricular assist device 'skeleton man': case report-simple tools for skeletal muscle evaluation and very early aerobic/resistance/inspiratory training in cardiac cachexia.

Background: Skeletal muscle wasting (SMW) is highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF) at left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and is associated with morbidity and mortality. At the same time, SMW is clinically under-recognized, while exercise training (ET) studies in weak LVAD patients are lacking. Case summary: A 60-year-old man with advanced HF, SMW, cardiac cachexia, and frailty was confined in bed for 6 months initially supported with intravenous inotropes and subsequently with an intra-aortic balloon pump. His frailty was recognized as an LVAD-responsive frailty, and patient was successfully implanted with a HeartWare (Medtronic). Post-surgery, patient was very weak, unable even to move in bed without assistance. We evaluated skeletal muscle using simple tools such as the Oxford scale, mid-thigh circumference, hand-held dynamometry, and maximum inspiratory pressure. Physical performance was assessed with the sit to stand test, gait speed test, pedal bike timing, and the 6 min walk test. On top of routine physiotherapy, patient underwent an 8-week modified aerobic/resistance/inspiratory (ARIS) ET programme at moderate intensity and showed significant improvements in skeletal muscle mass and strength and physical and functional capacity. Discussion: We want to emphasize the importance of skeletal muscle evaluation at LVAD implantation and the feasibility and effectiveness of early ARIS training in very weak patients.

Incidence, risk factors and clinical outcome of multidrug-resistant organisms after heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Transplant recipients commonly harbor multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), as a result of frequent hospital admissions and increased exposure to antimicrobials and invasive procedures. AIM: To investigate the impact of patient demographic and clinical characteristics on MDRO acquisition, as well as the impact of MDRO acquisition on intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, and on ICU mortality and 1-year mortality post heart transplantation. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 98 consecutive heart transplant patients over a ten-year period (2013-2022) in a single transplantation center. Data was collected regarding MDROs commonly encountered in critical care. RESULTS: Among the 98 transplanted patients (70% male), about a third (32%) acquired or already harbored MDROs upon transplantation (MDRO group), while two thirds did not (MDRO-free group). The prevalent MDROs were Acinetobacter baumannii (14%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (11%). Compared to MDRO-free patients, the MDRO group was characterized by higher body mass index (P = 0.002), higher rates of renal failure (P = 0.017), primary graft dysfunction (10% vs 4.5%, P = 0.001), surgical re-exploration (34% vs 14%, P = 0.017), mechanical circulatory support (47% vs 26% P = 0.037) and renal replacement therapy (28% vs 9%, P = 0.014), as well as longer extracorporeal circulation time (median 210 vs 161 min, P = 0.003). The median length of stay was longer in the MDRO group, namely ICU stay was 16 vs 9 d in the MDRO-free group (P = 0.001), and hospital stay was 38 vs 28 d (P = 0.006), while 1-year mortality was higher (28% vs 7.6%, log-rank-χ 2: 7.34). CONCLUSION: Following heart transplantation, a predominance of Gram-negative MDROs was noted. MDRO acquisition was associated with higher complication rates, prolonged ICU and total hospital stay, and higher post-transplantation mortality.