Preservation of Cardiac Xenografts in a Model of Infant Human Cardiac Transplantation.

Introduction: There is no standard protocol for management of organ preservation for orthotopic, life-sustaining cardiac xenotransplantation, particularly for hearts from pediatric sized donors. Standard techniques and solutions successful in human allotransplantation are not viable. We theorized that a solution commonly used in reparative cardiac surgery in human children would suffice by exploiting the advantages inherent to xenotransplantation, namely the ability to reduce organ ischemic times by co-locating the donor and recipient.

Early Results of an Infant Model of Orthotopic Cardiac Xenotransplantation.

Background: Genetically engineered porcine hearts may have an application for infants in need of a bridge to cardiac allotransplantation. The current animal model that resulted in 2 human applications has been validated in adult non-human primates only. We sought to create an infant animal model of life sustaining cardiac xenotransplantation to understand limitations specific to this age group.

The Colorado Heart Failure Acuity Risk Model: A Mortality Model for Waitlisted Cardiac Transplant Patients.

Background: Currently, there is no mathematical model used nationally to determine the medical urgency of patients on the heart transplant waitlist in the United States. While the current organ distribution system accounts for many patient factors, a truly objective model is needed to more reliably stratify patients by their medical acuity.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop risk scores (Colorado Heart failure Acuity Risk Model [CHARM] score) to predict mortality in adults waitlisted for heart transplant.

Left Ventricular Dimensions and Clinical Outcomes With a Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background: Prior analyses have suggested that a smaller left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) is associated with reduced survival following HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device implantation.

Objectives: In this trial-based comprehensive analysis, the authors sought to examine clinical characteristics and association with the outcome of this specific relationship.

Methods: The authors analyzed the presence of LVEDD <55 mm among 1,921 analyzable HeartMate 3 patients within the MOMENTUM 3 (Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy With HeartMate 3) trial portfolio, on endpoints of overall survival and adverse events at 2 years.

High-Risk Infant Developmental Outcome Is Associated with Medical Complexity and Neighborhood Opportunity.

Objective: To assess how medical complexity and neighborhood opportunity jointly affect cognitive, motor, and language Bayley's Scales of Infant Development. Secondary objectives involved identifying the factors contributing to developmental disparities across diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Study Design: Electronic health records from a Southern California high-risk infant follow-up clinic were analyzed for 440 infants from 2014 through 2023 who had either had neonatal intensive care unit stays, prematurity, very low birthweight, or developmental delay risk.