Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Early Acute Kidney Injury After Heart Transplantation: An 18-year Experience.

Background: Little is known about the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), as defined using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome classification, after heart transplantation (HT). Our objective was to evaluate the impact of AKI in a cohort of HT recipients. (Setting: University Hospital.

Evaluation of right ventricular function after cardiac surgery: The importance of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and right ventricular ejection fraction.

Objective: The evaluation of right ventricular systolic function is essential to the hemodynamic management of critically ill cardiac patients. Nevertheless, assessment of right ventricular function remains problematic. We sought to analyze the correlation between tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) in the assessment of global and regional right ventricular function, respectively.

Ductular cholestasis, an unusual form of intrahepatic cholestasis, associated with cardiogenic shock and ventricular assist device.

Ventricular assist devices have been shown to be effective in advanced heart failure selected patients. They often have borderline end-organ function, what facilitates organ dysfunction. Liver failure is difficult to manage and leads to increased morbidity and mortality.

[Levosimendan for postoperative ventricular dysfunction following heart transplantation].

The development of postoperative ventricular dysfunction immediately after heart transplantation is a serious complication that leads to low-output syndrome and which necessitates circulatory support. It is one of the most common causes of early morbidity and mortality. We present our experience with 6 heart transplant patients who were treated with intravenous levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer with inodilator properties, after regular hemodynamic therapy with sympathomimetic amines failed to result in a satisfactory hemodynamic status.