Characterizing Survival for Patients Supported With Inotropes After the 2018 Donor Allocation Restructuring: A UNOS Database Analysis.

Background: We sought to characterize adaptive changes to the revised UNOS donor heart allocation policy in 2018 and estimate long-term survival trends for heart transplant (HTx) recipients with respect to inotropic support.

Methods: Patients listed for HTx between July 18, 2014, and July 18, 2016 (prepolicy revision) and between October 18, 2018, and October 18, 2020 (postpolicy revision) were identified from the UNOS database. Sub-analyses examined trends in device progression where patients listed on inotropes were later transplanted on inotropes and/or on extracorporeal membranous oxygenator (ECMO), durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD), temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS), or intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP).

Echocardiography and Heart Failure: An Echocardiographic Decision Aid for the Diagnosis and Management of Cardiomyopathies.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to highlight the utility of echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathies.

Recent Findings: Echocardiographic parameters function synergistically to guide decision-making ranging from early detection of disease and screening to risk stratification of complex disease. The collective wealth of information available from 2D/3D assessment, Doppler, diastology and strain makes echocardiography an invaluable decision aid.