Echocardiographic Predictors of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator.

Aim: To evaluate the predictive value of preoperative echocardiographic parameters for occurrence of VAs in patients with preexisting ICD undergoing LVAD implantation.

Methods And Results: All consecutive patients (n = 264) with previous ICD who underwent LVAD surgery between May 2011 and December 2019 at our institution were included. The patients were predominantly male (89%) with NICM (59%) and a mean age of 59 ± 10 years.

Fully magnetically centrifugal left ventricular assist device and long-term outcomes: the ELEVATE registry.

Background And Aims: HeartMate 3 (HM3) is a fully magnetically levitated continuous flow left ventricular assist device, which received CE marking in 2015. The ELEVATE Registry was initiated to collect real-world outcomes in patients treated with HM3 post-CE Mark approval.

Methods: A total of 540 subjects implanted at 26 centres between March 2015 and February 2017 were included in this registry.

Secondary analysis of potential associations between oral health and infection-related parameters in patients with severe heart failure-results of a German cohort.

Objectives: Aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate whether oral health parameters would be associated with infection-related parameters and overall survival of patients with severe heart failure (HF).

Methods: Patients with severe HF, heart transplantation (HTx) and left-ventricular assist device (LVAD), which underwent a full oral examination between 2017 and 2018 were included. Infection-related and survival data were assessed from the patient´s medical records.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Spinal Cord Monitoring-A Roadmap to Translational Research in Aortic Medicine.

Extensive aortic aneurysms represent a unique challenge necessitating interdisciplinary efforts for safe and effective treatment. Despite various adjunctive neuroprotective strategies, ischemic spinal cord injury remains a devastating complication. This article describes the implementation of collateral network near-infrared spectroscopy as the first noninvasive spinal cord monitoring modality in the setting of extensive open and endovascular aortic repair, from early conceptualization to clinical utilization.

Is implantable cardioverter defibrillator surgery in patients with an implanted left ventricular assist device safe under uninterrupted oral anticoagulation?

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) surgery in patients with implanted left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) is associated with an increased risk of bleeding complications because of the need to ensure that these patients are adequately anticoagulated. Our study aimed to evaluate the safety of our new strategy of uninterrupted oral anticoagulation compared to heparin-bridging during the surgical interval.

Methods: Between January 2009 and January 2020, 116 patients with LVAD underwent ICD surgery.

Wearable cardioverter defibrillator multicentre experience in a large cardiac surgery cohort at transient risk of sudden cardiac death.

Objectives: The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is an established, safe, effective solution, protecting patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. We specifically investigated WCD use in cardiac surgery patients since data for this patient group are rare.

Methods: Retrospective data analysis in 10 German cardiac surgery centres was performed.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Mechanical Circulatory Support in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) Refractory to Medical Management: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, life-threatening form of heart disease, frequently associated with gene alterations and, in some cases, presenting with advanced heart failure. Little is known about ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation in severe PPCM cases. We describe long-term follow-up of PPCM patients who were resistant to medical therapy and received mechanical circulatory support or heart transplant.

Direct transaortic transcather valve-in-valve implantation into a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis during left ventricular assist device implantation: description of a surgical technique.

The presence of a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis is considered a relative contraindication for left ventricular assist device implantation (LVAD) due to the occurrence of thromboembolic events. Five patients were operated on for LVAD implantation with status post mechanical aortic valve implantation (n = 3 with status post Bentall procedure). After removal of the leaflets, a transcatheter balloon-expandable valve was placed within the mechanical ring in all patients.

No Association between Clinical Periodontal Conditions and Microbiological Findings on Driveline of Patients with Left-Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD).

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate whether there would be an association between periodontal disease parameters and positive bacterial findings at the driveline of patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Patients with an LVAD, who underwent a full oral and microbiological examination between 2016 and 2018, were included. During oral examination, periodontitis severity (stage and grade) and the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) were evaluated.

Immune Monitoring Assay for Extracorporeal Photopheresis Treatment Optimization After Heart Transplantation.

Background: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) induces immunological changes that lead to a reduced risk of transplant rejection. The aim of the present study was to determine optimum conditions for ECP treatment by analyzing a variety of tolerance-inducing immune cells to optimize the treatment.

Methods: Ten ECP treatments were applied to each of 17 heart-transplant patients from month 3 to month 9 post-HTx.

Validation of mitral regurgitation reversibility in patients with HeartMate 3 LVAD implantation.

The resolution of functional mitral valve regurgitation (MR) in patients awaiting left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is discussed controversially. The present study analyzed MR and echocardiographic parameters of the third-generation LVAD HeartMate 3 (HM3) over 3 years. Of 135 LVAD patients (with severe MR, n = 33; with none, mild, or moderate MR, n = 102), data of transthoracic echocardiography were included preoperatively to LVAD implantation, up to 1 month postoperatively, and at 1, 2, and 3 years after LVAD implantation.

Predictors of Mortality in Primary Surgical Repair of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Defects: The Leipzig Experience.

Background: A postinfarction ventricular septal defect (pVSD) as a complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high mortality. This retrospective, single-center study aimed to identify predictors of early and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing primary surgical repair of pVSD managed by various surgical techniques.

Methods: We reviewed data from 77 consecutive patients who underwent primary surgical repair after pVSD in our institution.

Comparison of periodontal parameters between patients with ischemic and dilative cardiomyopathy.

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed in the comparison of periodontal parameters, number of remaining teeth and oral behaviour between patients with ischemic- (ICM) and non-ischemic dilative cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: Patients with HF from the Department for Cardiac Surgery at the Heart Center Leipzig were included. The two groups (ICM and DCM) were composed by matching according to age, gender and smoking habits.

Oral health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure and left ventricular assist devices-results of a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and heart failure (HF).

Material And Methods: Seventy-four patients with LVAD were recruited from University Department for Cardiac Surgery, Leipzig Heart Center, Germany. A group of 72 patients with HF was composed by matching (age, gender, smoking).

Device-induced platelet dysfunction in patients after left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background: Non-surgical bleeding (NSB) is a major complication after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. It has been reported that non-physiological shear stress caused by LVADs could alter platelet receptor expression, which leads to bleeding disorders caused by coagulation dysfunctions.

Objectives: Because bleeding diathesis could be multifactorial, we focused on the combined characterization of platelet receptor expression patterns and oxidative stress to compare patients with NSB and patients without coagulation disorder in a monocentric, prospective study.

Five-year outcomes of patients supported with HeartMate 3: a single-centre experience.

Objectives: The HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device was first implanted in 2014 and received the Conformité Européenne mark in 2015. Since then, several trials demonstrated its high haemocompatibility associated with good survival and low adverse events rates. Herein, we report our institutional experience with patients supported with HeartMate 3 for 5 years.

Molecular Mechanisms of Diaphragm Myopathy in Humans With Severe Heart Failure.

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Oral health-related quality of life of patients after solid organ transplantation is not affected by oral conditions: results of a multicentre cross-sectional study.

Background: This multicentre cross-sectional study aimed in examination of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT).

Material And Methods: Patients after SOT (liver, lung and heart) at one out of three German centers (Goettingen, Essen, Leipzig) were included. For comparison, a healthy control (HC) was recruited.

Does oral health-related quality of life of patients after solid organ transplantation indicate a response shift? Results of a systematic review.

Background: The physical oral health and dental behaviour of patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT) has repeatedly been reported as insufficient. The objective of this systematic review was to detect whether the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients after SOT is reduced compared to that of healthy individuals.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed by two independent individuals based on the PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases by using the following search terms: "transplantation" AND "oral health-related quality of life".

Benefit of Self-Managed Anticoagulation in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background:  The exact monitoring of the therapeutic-range international normalized ratio (INR) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is an important aim to reduce the risk of thrombosis or bleeding complications. Service providers offer a telemedical anticoagulation service (CS).

Methods:  We compared LVAD patients using the CS ( = 15) to those who received regular medical care (RMC;  = 15) to investigate if telemedicine supervision increased the INR-specific time in the therapeutic range (TTR) during anticoagulation.