Ventricular assist device support in paediatric patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy-clinical outcomes and haemodynamics.

Objectives: Restrictive cardiomyopathy is rare and is generally associated with worse clinical outcomes compared to other cardiomyopathies. Ventricular assist device (VAD) support for these children is seldom applied and often hampered by the surgical difficulties.

Methods: All paediatric (<19 years) patients with a restricted cardiomyopathy supported by a VAD from the EUROMACS database were included and compared to patients with a dilated cardiomyopathy (retrospective database analyses).

The European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS): fourth Paediatric EUROMACS (Paedi-EUROMACS) report.

Objectives: The use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) in children is increasing. However, absolute numbers in individual centres and countries remain small. Collaborative efforts such as the Paedi-European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS) are therefore essential for combining international experience with paediatric VADs.

Graphene Oxide Significantly Modifies Cardiac Parameters and Coronary Endothelial Reactivity in Healthy and Hypertensive Rat Hearts .

Interactions of graphene oxide (GO) with an rat heart and its coronary vessels have not been studied yet. Moreover, the conflicting data on the "structure-properties" relationships do not allow for biomedical applications of GO. Herein, we study the impact of GO on the isolated rat heart, normotensive and hypertensive, under the working heart and the constant-pressure perfusion (Langendorff) regimes.

Systemic Sclerosis as a Challenge for Heart Transplantation: A Case Report.

Objective: To assess the principles of qualification and the range of organ transplantation in a patient with diagnosis of system sclerosis with pulmonary manifestation and severe myocardial insufficiency.

Methods: We present the case of a 43-year-old patient with confirmed systemic sclerosis with pulmonary manifestations and biventricular heart insufficiency after disease exacerbation and sudden cardiac arrest in the pulseless electrical activity (PEA) mechanism with effective resuscitation, with increasing shortness of breath and the need for inotropes and levosimendan infusion without a significant improvement in his general status. Owing to the diagnosis of a systemic disease with no option for pharmacologic or any other treatment for heart failure, he was reevaluated and put on an urgent waiting list for isolated heart transplantation.

Mechanical circulatory support in patients with congenital heart disease: a European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS) study.

Objectives: This study aims to explore characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) in the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of EUROMACS participants receiving MCS as bridge-to-transplant, possible bridge-to-transplant, or rescue therapy/bridge-to-recovery from 2011 to 2023 (n = 5340). Adult and paediatric cohorts were analysed separately.

Assessment of Selected Parameters of Heart Donors and Recipients and Their Impact on the Transplantation Result.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of heart donors and recipients parameters on the outcomes after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT).

Methodology: Two hundred fifteen patients who underwent OHT from 2020 to 2023 were analyzed.

Results: Average donors age 36.

Utility of 64-Slice Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Heart Transplant Recipients.

Background: Graft vasculopathy is a leading cause of death after heart transplantation (HTx). Diagnosing cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) within this patient group poses significant challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in patients after HTx.

Pediatric Heart Transplantation in the Context of Severe Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Restrictive Cardiomyopathy-Case Report.

The aim of this study is to analyze the feasibility of performing an isolated heart transplant in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension as a result of restrictive cardiomyopathy. The results present the clinical course from the diagnosis of restrictive cardiomyopathy at the age of 2 until the heart transplant at 8 years old. Initially, the patient was considered for multiorgan transplantation, heart and lungs, due to extremely high pulmonary resistance.

Durable left ventricular assist device explantation following recovery in paediatric patients: Determinants and outcome after explantation.

Objectives: Myocardial recovery in children supported by a durable left ventricular assist device is a rare, but highly desirable outcome because it could potentially eliminate the need for a cardiac transplant and the lifelong need for immunosuppressant therapy and the risk of complications. However, experience with this specific outcome is extremely limited.

Methods: All patients < 19 years old supported by a durable left ventricular assist device from the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support database were included.

Case Report: Heart aneurysm of unknown origin in a two-year-old child diagnosed in the course of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

We present a case of a 22-month-old boy with a hypokinetic and thin-walled aneurysm of the left ventricle apex. The lesion was diagnosed during routine echocardiography examination in the course of MIS-C, and its occurrence due to MIS-C is plausible. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed an akinetic aneurysm of the LV apex with a full-wall ischemic scar.

Does the induction immunotherapy (basiliximab) influence the early acute cellular rejection index after orthotopic heart transplantation?- Preliminary assessment report.

The study aimed to determine the influence of induction therapy on the acute cellular rejection (ACR) index in adult heart transplant recipients during the one-year observation. The study population consisted of 256 consecutive adult patients (pts), aged 51.5 (±11.

Use of Intracorporeal Durable LVAD Support in Children Using HVAD or HeartMate 3-A EUROMACS Analysis.

The withdrawal of HVAD in 2021 created a concern for the pediatric population. The alternative implantable centrifugal blood pump HeartMate 3 has since been used more frequently in children. This paper analyses the outcome of children on LVAD support provided with an HVAD or HM3.

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis After Sars-CoV-2 Infection as Limitation of Contemporary Transplantology: A Case Report.

Invasive fungal infections are uncommon in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Risk and mortality are highest in the first 6 months post-transplant, especially in patients with previous surgery and those requiring mechanical support. There is a possibility that prior SARS-CoV-2 infection may cause a more severe course of pulmonary aspergillosis, especially in immunosuppressed individuals.

Long-term results of pediatric heart transplantations: Single-center experiences.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is characterized by significant mortality in both adults and children. Characteristics of pediatric HF are feeding problems, poor weight gain, exercise intolerance, or dyspnea. These changes are often accompanied by endocrine disorders.

Outcomes in small children on Berlin Heart EXCOR support: age and body surface area as clinical predictive factors.

Objectives: The Berlin Heart EXCOR (BHE) offers circulatory support across all paediatric ages. Clinically, the necessary care and the outcomes differ in various age groups. The EUROMACS database was used to study age- and size-related outcomes for this specific device.

Cerebrovascular accidents in paediatric patients supported by the Berlin Heart EXCOR.

Objectives: Ventricular assist device support as a bridge to transplant or recovery is a well-established therapy in children on the cardiac transplant waiting list. The goal of this study was to investigate the incidence of and the associated factors for cerebrovascular accidents in paediatric patients supported by a Berlin Heart EXCOR.

Methods: All patients <19 years of age supported by a Berlin Heart EXCOR between January 2011 and January 2021 from the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support were included.

The European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS): third Paediatric (Paedi-EUROMACS) report.

Objectives: A third paediatric report has been generated from the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS). The purpose of EUROMACS, which is operated by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, is to gather data related to durable mechanical circulatory support for scientific purposes and to publish reports with respect to the course of mechanical circulatory support therapy. Since the first report issued, efforts to increase compliance and participation have been extended.

Standards of Psychological Care for Pediatric Patients Awaiting Heart Transplantation and Those Requiring Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Children waiting for a heart transplant who require mechanical circulatory support often experience many months of hospitalization. This has a significant impact on their mental health and their development. Additional risk factors for these disorders are neurologic complications associated with the used treatment.

Pregnancies After Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation have improved survival and quality of live. Some of them are women of childbearing age and have a wish to be pregnant. If the decision to have a child is made, the patient needs a multidisciplinary approach.

Patient-Related Preoperative Clinical Factors Influencing 1-Year Survival After Orthotopic Heart Transplantation - A Single Center Polish Experience.

BACKGROUND End-stage heart failure is a growing problem in Poland. Orthotopic heart transplantation remains the best treatment option. Although increasing, the number of heart transplants is disproportionately low compared with patient need.

A modified heterotopic heart transplantation in the rat - as an important model in experimental regeneration and replacement of the failing organ.

The qualification of new knowledge is one of the oldest problems in experimental medicine that provides a link between fundamental discovery, hypothesis, 'proof of concept' preclinical studies and development of clinical trials. The biggest challenge in animal models is the proper evaluation of all the aspects that are crucial in specific studied pathologies as well as the prediction of their progression. The aim of this review was to describe and discuss the rat animal model of heart transplant.

The European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS): second EUROMACS Paediatric (Paedi-EUROMACS) report.

Objectives: A second paediatric report has been generated from the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS). The purpose of EUROMACS, which is operated by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, is to gather data related to durable mechanical circulatory support for scientific purposes and to publish reports with respect to the course of mechanical circulatory support therapy. Since the first report issued, efforts to increase compliance and participation have been extended.

Graft vasculopathy in a Wistar rat model of heterotopic heart transplantation depending on gender matching between donors and recipients.

Introduction: Heart transplant is an accepted treatment modality in end-stage heart failure. The graft coronary artery vasculopathy is a main concern to explain the heterogeneity of the rejection process according to the gender of the donor and recipient.

Aim: To assess the severity and type of mechanisms leading to failure of the graft.