Highly sensitized patients listed for heart after liver transplantation with or without domino.

For patients with end-stage heart disease and borderline hemodynamics, high human leukocyte antigen allosensitization presents a barrier to heart transplantation in a timely manner. Conventional desensitization protocols are inadequate in this context due to time constraints and for the most highly reactive immunologically. We previously reported performing heart after liver transplant with domino liver transplant on a single patient without liver disease.

Impella 5.5 support before, during, and after surgical ventricular septal defect repair: A bridge continuum.

Introduction: Post-infarction ventricular septal defect formation remains a formidable mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 72-year-old male who was admitted with post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect and cardiogenic shock.

Discussion: Impella 5.

Pathophysiology and management of valvular disease in patients with destination left ventricular assist devices.

Over the last two decades, implantable continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have proven to be invaluable tools for the management of selected advanced heart failure patients, improving patient longevity and quality of life. The presence of concomitant valvular pathology, including that involving the tricuspid, mitral, and aortic valve, has important implications relating to the decision to move forward with LVAD implantation. Furthermore, the presence of concomitant valvular pathology often influences the surgical strategy for LVAD implantation.

Right heart failure after left ventricular assist device: From mechanisms to treatments.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy is a lifesaving option for patients with medical therapy-refractory advanced heart failure. Depending on the definition, 5-44% of people supported with an LVAD develop right heart failure (RHF), which is associated with worse outcomes. The mechanisms related to RHF include patient, surgical, and hemodynamic factors.

Diagnosis and treatment of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 on veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: Veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an effective, but highly resource intensive salvage treatment option in COVID patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a known sequelae of COVID-19 induced ARDS, yet there is a paucity of data on the incidence and determinants of RV dysfunction on VV ECMO. We retrospectively examined the determining factors leading to RV failure and means of early identification of this phenomenon in patients on VV ECMO.

The History of Durable Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Comparison of Outcomes: HeartWare, HeartMate II, HeartMate 3, and the Future of Mechanical Circulatory Support.

The utilization of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in end-stage heart failure has doubled in the past ten years and is bound to continue to increase. Since the first of these devices was approved in 1994, the technology has changed tremendously, and so has the medical and surgical management of these patients. In this review, we discuss the history of LVADs, evaluating survival and complications over time.

A study of cardiorespiratory related mortality as a result of exposure to black carbon.

Introduction: Air pollution is a global phenomenon which invariably leads to a serious environmental and health related sequalae. "Black carbon" (BC), a subset of fine particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM), is a fossil fuel emission by-product and has more recently been recognized as a major health hazard.

Outcomes After Extracorporeal Right Ventricular Assist Device Combined With Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device Support.

Background: Right heart failure occurs in 9% to 44% of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implants, of which less than 10% require right ventricular assist device (RVAD) support either concurrently with the LVAD or staged, as a delayed procedure. We have reported our outcomes based on whether the RVAD was placed concurrently or staged.

Methods: Clinical data were obtained from the Duke University Medical Center database.

Prevention and control of rheumatic heart disease: Overcoming core challenges in resource-poor environments.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has long receded as a significant threat to public health in high-income countries. In low-resource settings, however, the specter of RHD remains unabated, as exemplified by recent data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study. There are many complex reasons for this ongoing global disparity, including inadequate data on disease burden, challenges in effective advocacy, ongoing poverty and inequality, and weak health systems, most of which predominantly affect developing nations.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric cardiac surgery: A retrospective review of trends and outcomes in Scotland.

Introduction: Around 3.2%-8.4% of patients receive venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory cardiogenic shock after adult cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) refractory to inotropic support and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) occurs rarely but is almost universally fatal without mechanical circulatory support. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we looked at the evidence behind the use of veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) in refractory PCCS from a patient survival rate and determinants of outcome viewpoint.

Methods: A systematic review was performed in January 2017 using PubMed (with no defined time period) using the keywords "postcardiotomy", "cardiogenic shock", "extracorporeal membrane oxygenation" and "cardiac surgery".

Keep an eye out: A rare case of acute-onset Charles Bonnet Syndrome after Stanford type A aortic dissection repair surgery.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome describes the triad of complex visual hallucinations secondary to ophthalmic pathology in psychologically normal people. We present a rare case of acute-onset Charles Bonnet Syndrome following cardiac surgery that resulted in profound loss of visual acuity in both eyes with characteristic visual hallucinations that were initially mistaken for delirium. Computed tomography of the brain revealed bilateral occipital infarcts, providing the substrate for Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

Sudden Death in a Diver: A Diagnostic Conundrum.

We discuss the case of an experienced diver who ran out of air during his final ascent while scuba diving. He lost consciousness rapidly after surfacing and despite immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation, could not be revived. On arrival at the emergency department he was noted to have copious amounts of blood in his upper airway and had developed extensive subcutaneous emphysema.

Rheumatic heart disease screening: Current concepts and challenges.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a disease of poverty, is almost entirely preventable, and is the most common cardiovascular disease worldwide in those under 25 years. RHD is caused by acute rheumatic fever (ARF) which typically results in cumulative valvular lesions that may present clinically after a number of years of subclinical disease. Therapeutic interventions, therefore, typically focus on preventing subsequent ARF episodes (with penicillin prophylaxis).

Lead-Sparing Tricuspid Valve Repair Damaged by Pacemaker Lead.

Permanent pacemaker lead may damage the tricuspid valve in various ways, causing severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. The perforation of posterior papillary muscle is an uncommon complication caused by the lead. We describe a lead-sparing tricuspid valve repair in which the lead extraction was not an option.

Extracorporeal Life Support for Refractory Cardiac Arrest from Accidental Hypothermia: A 10-Year Experience in Edinburgh.

Background: Cardiac arrest caused by accidental hypothermia is a rare phenomenon with a significant mortality rate if untreated. The consensus is that these patients should be rewarmed with extracorporeal life support (ECLS) with the potential for excellent survival and neurologic outcomes. However, given the lack of robust data and clinical trials, the optimal management of such patients remains elusive.

A 20-year multicentre outcome analysis of salvage mechanical circulatory support for refractory cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery.

Background: Refractory post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) is a relatively rare phenomenon that can lead to rapid multi-organ dysfunction syndrome and is almost invariably fatal without advanced mechanical circulatory support (AMCS), namely extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or ventricular assist devices (VAD). In this multicentre observational study we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of salvage venoarterial ECMO (VA ECMO) and VAD for refractory PCCS in the 3 adult cardiothoracic surgery centres in Scotland over a 20-year period.

Methods: The data was obtained through the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen cardiac surgery databases.

Advanced mechanical circulatory support for post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock: a 20-year outcome analysis in a non-transplant unit.

Background: Post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) has an incidence of 2-6 % after routine adult cardiac surgery. 0.5-1.

How to make an aortic root replacement simulator at home.

There is a paucity of low-fidelity and cost-efficient simulators for training cardiac surgeons in the aspects of aortic root/valve replacement. In this study we addressed this training challenge by creating a low-fidelity, low-cost but, at the same time, anatomically realistic aortic root replacement simulator for training purposes. We used readily available, low cost materials such as lint roller tubes, foam sheet, press-and-seal bags, glue, plywood sheet, heat-shrink sleeving tubes and condoms as the basic material to create a low-fidelity, aortic root, training simulator.

Middle lobe syndrome associated with major haemoptysis.

A 60-year-old Indian woman who was suffering from recurrent pneumonia presented with major haemoptysis and a right-sided pleuritic chest pain. Initially the patient required resuscitation to optimise her haemodynamic parameters while oxygenation remained satisfactory. An urgent computed tomography pulmonary angiogram revealed right middle lobe syndrome which constitutes chronic collapse of the middle lobe accompanied by bronchiectatic changes.

Is there any role for resuscitative emergency department thoracotomy in blunt trauma?

A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether there is any role for resuscitative emergency department thoracotomy in severe blunt trauma. Emergency thoracotomy is an accepted intervention for patients with penetrating cardiothoracic trauma.

Is it safe to cut pacing wires flush with the skin instead of removing them?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether it is safe to cut the temporary epicardial pacing wires (TEPWs) flush with the patient's skin surface prior to discharge. Altogether 105 relevant papers were identified of which 13 case reports represented the best evidence to answer the question.