Long-term biventricular circulatory support with POLVAD-MEV paracorporeal pulsatile pumps. Single-centre experience.

Introduction: Severe heart failure decompensation requires circulatory mechanical support in emergency situations. Polish paracorporeal pulsatile pumps, POLVAD-MEV, are designed for biventricular end-stage heart dysfunction.

Aim: To evaluate long-term POLVAD-MEV therapy by multiple pump exchange in patients on a transplant list.

Invasive aspergillosis successfully treated by combined antifungal therapy and immunosuppressive monotherapy two months following heart transplantation.

Invasive aspergillosis is becoming increasingly prevalent, especially following transplantation. Invasive aspergillosis is associated with mortality. Successful therapy is related to early diagnosis and proper therapy.

Induction therapy, tacrolimus plasma concentration, and duration if intensive care unit stay are risk factors for peripheral leucopenia following heart transplantation.

Background: Although survival among heart recipients has increased, a limiting factor is chronic adverse effects of immunosuppression therapy.

Material And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 22 patients (19 men and 3 women) with a mean age of 48 ± 12 years who underwent orthotropic heart transplantation. There were 20 (91%) patients who received induction therapy (basiliximab, Simulect, Novartis Europharm Limited).

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic acute heart rejection: a case report.

Background: Diagnosis of rejection is a major objective in the management of heart transplant recipients. It has been reported that one-third of protocol biopsies in asymptomatic, biochemically stable organ transplant recipients in the first 6 months show unsuspected subclinical graft rejection.

Case Report: We present the case of a 43-year-old man suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy who underwent orthotropic heart transplantation.

Seizures after heart transplantation--two cases of non-immunosuppressant drug interactions in young patients.

Background: Neurological complications occur in 30-80% of patients following heart transplantation, and seizures account for 2-20% of these sequelae. The main risk factors are toxicity due to immunosuppression, infections, and brain lesions. We present 2 cases of grand mal type attacks that occurred on the 7th and 15th postoperative days.

Comparison of conventional tacrolimus versus prolong release formula as initial therapy in heart transplantation.

Background: A new formulation of tacrolimus that is characterized by prolonged release has been developed to facilitate treatment and patient compliance. Initial therapy with prolonged release formula in heart transplantation is not widely accepted.

Material And Methods: We enrolled 19 patients into a randomized analysis divided into 2 groups with different initial regimens.