HeartMate 3 implantation with an emphasis on the biventricular configuration.

OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular failure following implantation of a durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a major driver of mortality. Reported survival following biventricular (BiVAD) or total artificial heart (TAH) implantation remains substantially inferior to LVAD alone. We report our outcomes with LVAD and BiVAD HeartMate 3 (HM3). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing implantation of an HM3 LVAD between November 2014 and December 2021, at The Alfred, Australia were included in the study. Comparison was made between the BiVAD and LVAD alone groups. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients, 65 patients with LVAD alone and 21 in a BiVAD configuration underwent implantation. The median age of the LVAD and BiVAD groups was 56 years (Interquartile range 46-62) and 49 years (Interquartile range 37-55), respectively. By 4 years after implantation, 54% of LVAD patients and 43% of BiVAD patients had undergone cardiac transplantation. The incidence of stroke in the entire experience was 3.5% and pump thrombosis 5% (all in the RVAD). There were 14 deaths in the LVAD group and 1 in the BiVAD group. The actuarial survival for LVAD patients at 1 year was 85% and BiVAD patients at 1 year was 95%. CONCLUSIONS: The application of HM 3 BiVAD support in selected patients appears to offer a satisfactory solution to patients requiring biventricular support.

Relationships Among Cognitive Function and Cerebral Blood Flow, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Older Heart Failure Patients.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms for cognitive impairment in heart failure (HF) are unclear. We investigated the relative contributions of cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV), oxidative stress, and inflammation to HF-associated cognitive impairment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-six HF patients (≥60 years) and 40 healthy controls (68 ± 7 vs 67 ± 5 years, P > .05; 69% vs 50% male, P > .05) completed the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment battery and Stroop tasks. Common carotid (CCA) and middle cerebral arterial BFV were obtained by transcranial Doppler. Blood samples were collected for oxidant (diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites; F2-isoprostanes), antioxidant (coenzyme Q10; CoQ10), and inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). Compared with controls, patients exhibited impaired attention (Cognitive Drug Research's Power of Attention domain, congruent Stroop) and executive function (incongruent Stroop). Multiple regression modeling showed that CCA-BFV and CoQ10 but not group predicted performance on attention and executive function. Additionally, in HF patients, CCA-BFV and CoQ10 (ß = -0.34 vs ß = -0.35) were significant predictors of attention, and CCA-BFV (ß = -0.34) was a predictor of executive function. CONCLUSIONS: Power of Attention and executive function is impaired in older HF patients, and reduced CCA-BFV and CoQ10 are associated with worse cognition. Interventions addressing these mechanisms may improve cognition in older HF patients.

Long-term right ventricular support with a centrifugal ventricular assist device placed in the right atrium.

This case series outlines the technique and results of right ventricular assist device (RVAD) support with the off-label use of the centrifugal HeartWare HVAD (HeartWare Inc., Framingham, MA, USA) for long-term support. Four patients in our institution have been implanted with BiVADs, using the Heartware device as the RVAD, and supported for between 117 days and 772 days. Three of the patients have been successfully supported for over 18 months. Three patients have successfully been transplanted and one patient remains on the device, now approaching two years of support. None of the patients have had RVAD device-related complications.

Increased vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in endomyocardial biopsies from allografts demonstrating severe acute rejection: a longitudinal study.

Investigation into the contribution of the immune system and inflammatory cascade to acute rejection (AR) and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) has implicated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The endomyocardial biopsy (EB) has proved invaluable in the diagnosis of AR, and in providing information concerning the biological processes occurring following transplantation. The association between VEGF and AR and the development of CAV was examined in endomyocardial biopsies (EBs) from a cohort of 76 heart transplant recipients. VEGF mRNA levels were quantified through real time RT-PCR in 712 EBs, obtained at routine intervals during post-operative monitoring. VEGF and leukocyte and endothelial markers were assessed in a subset of biopsies through immunohistochemistry. The results of generalised linear modelling, adjusting for covariates, revealed VEGF mRNA expression was 19% greater during severe AR as compared to no rejection (p=0.007). Immunohistochemical results supported these findings. Mean VEGF mRNA levels were not significant predictors for the development of CAV (p=0.554). However the risk of cardiac related death increased 9-fold for a 1 unit increase in mean VEGF expression (p=0.006). Similarly, a single unit increase in mean AR severity equated to a 10-fold increase in the risk of cardiac related death (p<0.005). Our data suggest that increased VEGF expression is strongly associated with severe AR and cardiac related death.

Antioxidant therapy for severe cardiac failure induced by iron overload secondary to dyserythropoietic anaemia.

We present a case of a patient with longstanding transfusion-dependent congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) who developed cardiomyopathy despite iron chelation therapy. She presented with severe heart failure that responded poorly to conventional therapy, recovering only when therapy was augmented with metabolic agents including antioxidants and with increased iron chelation. The present case gives support to the concept of treating oxidatively induced heart failure with metabolic and antioxidant therapy. This therapy may have wider application in refractory heart failure and in the prevention of cardiomyopathy in patients receiving regular red cell transfusions who are at risk of transfusional haemosiderosis.

Prolonged cardiac allograft ischemic time--no impact on long-term survival but at what cost?

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this paper was to review the outcomes of cardiac transplantation with regards to short- and long-term survival, focusing particularly on patients who receive organs with long ischemic times and the resource utilization necessary to support such patients through their postoperative period. METHODS: A retrospective review of 420 consecutive cardiac transplants in a single institution was undertaken. RESULTS: The five- and 10-yr survival rates for the entire group were 0.76 (95% CI: 0.72-0.80) and 0.60 (0.54-0.66). There was no decrease in mid- or long-term survival in patients who received organs with ischemic times over 300 min. Longer donor organ ischemic time was not associated with increased 30 d mortality but was significantly associated with longer intensive care bed stay, increased incidence of primary graft failure, need for mechanical support, and complications such as acute renal failures. CONCLUSIONS: Although using donor organs with longer ischemic times for cardiac transplantation does not impact on survival, there is a significantly increased utilization of resources to ensure these patients survive the postoperative period.