Two Coupled Continuous-Flow Ventricular Assist Devices as a Novel BIVAD With One Driveline-Acute Animal Study Results.

Background: The study assesses the feasibility of the DuoCor BiVAS, a novel biventricular assist system integrating magnetic levitation technology.

Methods: In an acute large animal model involving five sheep, each received the DuoCor BiVAS without cardiopulmonary bypass. Hemodynamic and device parameters were monitored continuously for 1-h post-implantation.

Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement with Perceval Bioprosthesis Superior to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Promising Option for the Gray-Zone of Aortic Valve Replacement Procedures-A State-of-the-Art Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Future Directions.

: The management of patients with aortic valve pathologies can sometimes fall into a "gray zone", where the optimal treatment approach is not straightforward. The comparative benefits of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SUAVR) using the Perceval bioprosthesis versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for the "gray zone" of aortic valve replacement procedures remain a topic of debate. To further explore this issue, we conducted a study with pairwise, single-arm, and Kaplan-Meier-based meta-analyses to compare the outcomes of SUAVR with the Perceval bioprosthesis versus TAVI, as well as to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and durability of SUAVR with the Perceval bioprosthesis over mid-term and long-term follow-up periods.

Surgical Therapy of Infective Prosthesis Endocarditis following TAVI: A Single Center's Experience.

Background/objectives: Infective prosthesis endocarditis (IE) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) presents significant management challenges, marked by high mortality rates. This study reviews our center's experience with surgical interventions for IE in patients post-TAVI, focusing on outcomes, challenges, and procedural complexities, and providing an overview of the limited literature surrounding this subject.

Methods: This study was executed as a comprehensive retrospective analysis, targeting the clinical outcomes of surgical treatment in patients presenting with PVE following TAVI procedures at our institution.

Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Sixteen Years of Single-Center Experience.

: Coronary artery disease is a major cause of death globally. Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), using a small left anterior thoracotomy, aims to provide a less invasive alternative to traditional procedures, potentially improving patient outcomes with reduced recovery times. This retrospective, non-randomized study analyzed 310 patients who underwent MIDCAB between July 1999 and April 2022.

Hemodynamical Evaluation of a New Surgically Implanted Pulsatile Right Ventricular Assist Device Driven by a Conventional Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Console.

Severe right heart failure, often overlooked and challenging to manage, has prompted a growing interest in innovative approaches to provide functional support. This study uses experimentation in large porcine models to introduce a novel prototype of a pulsatile mechanical circulatory support device and document its effects when deployed as a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). The pulsatile ventricular assist platform (pVAP), featuring a membrane pump driven by an intra-aortic balloon pump console, actively generates pulsatile flow to propel right ventricular blood into the pulmonary artery.

Outcomes of modular cable exchange in HeartMate 3 patients versus conventional driveline repair in HeartMate II patients.

Background: Driveline (DL) damages are a common difficulty among ventricular assist devices (VAD). Repairing the electrical fibers inside the DL on a running pump is hazardous and requires technical expertise, which is not easily available on site. A new feature of the HeartMate3 (Abbott, U.

Is there a sex gap in outcomes of comparable patients supported with left ventricular assist devices?

Objectives: Historically, females were described as suffering from worse outcomes after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. However, females' preoperative conditions are unique, making direct comparisons with males challenging. This study aimed to select through propensity score (PS) matching two preoperatively comparable populations of females and males and test if any real sex-related difference exists regarding survival and adverse events after LVAD implantation.

Three-year follow-up after less-invasive left ventricular assist device exchange to HeartMate 3™.

Background: Device exchange to a newer generation left ventricular assist device (LVAD) offers the opportunity to benefit from improved adverse events profiles. We present the three-year results of a patient cohort undergoing VAD upgrades to a new generation device focusing on outcomes and adverse events.

Methods: We present the first series of patients who underwent LVAD upgrade to HeartMate 3 (Abbott Laboratories; Abbott Park, IL, USA).

Left ventricular assist device implantation in patients with left ventricular thrombus.

An intra-cavitary left ventricular (LV) thrombus is a relative contraindication to LV assist device (LVAD) implantation based on increased thromboembolic risks. Herein, we present our experience with LVAD patients with or without preoperative diagnosis of LV-thrombus. We retrospectively investigated 563 patients who received LVAD implantation between 2004 and 2018.

Flying after left ventricular assist device implantation.

Literature on the air travel activities of patients supported by permanent mechanical assist devices is rare. To the best of our knowledge, no air travel guidelines or fitness prerequisites exist on whether and when ventricular assist device (VAD) patients are allowed to travel by plane after device implantation. In this study, we evaluated the topic of air travel after VAD implantation.

Minimally invasive left ventricular assist device implantation: optimizing device design for this approach.

: The global heart failure (HF) burden is expected to increase due to aging populations, increasing number of end-stage HF patients and adverse lifestyle changes. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices such as left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become a promising treatment option for short-term and long-term circulatory support of end-stage HF patients.: Recent developments in MCS technology have been focused on miniaturization leading to the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures for LVAD implantation.

Device profile of the heartware HVAD system as a bridge-to-transplantation in patients with advanced heart failure: overview of its safety and efficacy.

: Heart failure (HF) is one of the rising problems in the contemporary society with growing incidences of end-stage HF. While heart transplantation (HT) is the gold standard treatment for end-stage HF, its availability is limited by the lack of heart donors. As a consequence, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are becoming key therapies as bridge to transplant (BTT) strategy to improve survival and outcomes.