LVAD Vasculitis Case Series: Suggestion of a New Fatal LVAD-Related Phenomenon.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are surgically implanted mechanical devices indicated for patients with advanced heart failure and are known to come with several complications. Here we present a case series, and review 1 documented report, of LVAD vasculitis, a presumed new LVAD immune/humoral related phenomenon. ().

Outcomes of Durable Mechanical Circulatory Support in Myocarditis: Analysis of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support Registry.

Myocarditis can be refractory to medical therapy and require durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS). The characteristics and outcomes of these patients are not known. We identified all patients with clinically-diagnosed or pathology-proven myocarditis who underwent mechanical circulatory support in the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support registry (2013-2016).

Relation of Pretransplant Peak Oxygen Consumption to Outcomes After Heart Transplantation.

Peak exercise oxygen consumption (pVO) is an important predictor of prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). The association between pretransplant pVO and post-transplantation outcomes in HF patients has not been previously studied. We identified adult OHT recipients with available pVO in the United Network for Organ Sharing registry (2000 to 2015).

HeartMate II pump exchange with HeartMate III implantation to the descending aorta.

Removal of the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device (LVAD) usually requires a sternotomy. We report a case of HeartMate III LVAD implantation to the descending aorta via a left thoracotomy while leaving most of the HeartMate II device in place to avoid redo-sternotomy.

Changes in the Association of Rising Infective Endocarditis With Mortality in People Who Inject Drugs.

This study assesses the association of infective endocarditis with mortality from 1999 to 2016 among people who inject drugs in the United States.

Heart Transplantation in Giant Cell Myocarditis: Analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing Registry.

Background: Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is a lethal, rapidly progressive disease, for which heart transplantation is the treatment of choice. We sought to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients with GCM who undergo heart transplantation.

Methods And Results: We used the United Network for Organ Sharing thoracic organ transplantation registry to identify adults with GCM as the primary diagnosis and compared their characteristics and outcomes with patients who underwent transplantation for other types of myocarditis and for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCMP).

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Myocarditis Listed for Heart Transplantation.

Background: Myocarditis can cause dilated cardiomyopathy resulting in end-stage heart failure requiring advanced therapies. There is little contemporary information on the clinical progression, need for mechanical circulatory support, and outcomes of orthotopic heart transplantation of these patients.

Methods And Results: We queried the UNOS database (United Network for Organ Sharing) for all adults listed for orthotopic heart transplantation (2000-2015) with a listed diagnosis of myocarditis.

Left Ventricular Assist Devices or Inotropes for Decreasing Pulmonary Vascular Resistance in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Listed for Heart Transplantation.

Background: Fixed pulmonary hypertension is common in patients with advanced heart failure and is a contraindication for heart transplantation. Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and inotropes have been used to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and allow transplantation. However, little is known about the efficacy of this strategy.

Model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score predicts heart transplant outcomes: Evidence from the registry of the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Background: Hepato-renal function is a valuable predictor of success after left ventricular assist device therapy and heart transplantation. Hence, we analyzed the importance of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score to outcomes after heart transplant.

Methods: Adults undergoing heart transplant from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database were identified (1994 to 2014).