Heart Transplant Outcomes After Total Artificial Heart.

Background: We sought to compare heart transplant (HTX) outcomes from patients with a total artificial heart (TAH), biventricular assist device (BiVAD), or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to transplant (BTT). Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS)-Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) created a dataset with TAH or durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) who reached HTX between 2006 and 2015.

Methods: The retrospective analysis compared TAH outcomes with those with a BiVAD or LVAD before HTX.

Lessons learned from a delayed diagnosis of atrioesophageal fistula: A multidisciplinary approach.

Atrioesophageal fistulas are a rare complication of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) that requires rapid identification and emergent surgical repair to prevent morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a 32-year-old man with atrial fibrillation presenting with chest pain followed by rapidly progressive sepsis and embolic cerebrovascular accident 23 days after RFA. Subtle initially overlooked findings on multiple computed tomography caused a delay in diagnosis.

Coronary Artery Fistula Ligation Using Selective Coronary Artery Angiography.

A 55-year-old male presented with worsening shortness of breath and was found to have multiple coronary artery fistulas on coronary angiogram with coronary steal. He subsequently underwent successful ligation of three of the fistulas using intraoperative coronary angiography in the hybrid suite to assist with the identification and confirmation of closure. There are currently no formal recommendations for the use of intraoperative imaging in such cases, but the results of our case contribute to the sparse body of literature supporting the utilization of intraoperative angiography in ligating multiple coronary artery fistulas.

Impact of aortic aneurysms in trans-catheter aortic valve replacement: A single center experience.

Background: Patients who undergo trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may have concomitant aortic aneurysms. We sought to clarify the incidence of aortic aneurysms and its impact on clinical outcomes among patients undergoing TAVR.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR from January 2012 to June 2016.

An updated meta-analysis of TAVR in patients at intermediate risk for SAVR.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been approved for use in patients with severe aortic stenosis at intermediate, high and extreme surgical risk. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the safety and efficacy of TAVR compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in intermediate risk patients.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for studies comparing TAVR versus SAVR in patients at intermediate surgical risk, with a mean Society of Thoracic Surgeon score of 3-8% or a mean logistic European risk score of 10-20%.

Total artificial heart implantation in a young Marfan syndrome patient.

Introduction: Cardiovascular complications represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Marfan syndrome. Here, we describe a unique case where a total artificial heart was implanted in a young Marfan syndrome woman.

Methods: A 22-year-old postpartum African American female with Marfan syndrome developed multiple severe valve dysfunction and biventricular failure that was refractory to medical management.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome due to influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 pneumonia. A single-center experience during the 2013-2014 season.

Objective: This report aimed to describe the outcomes of the patients with severe H1N1 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome who were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy.

Methods: This retrospective review analyzed a single-center cohort of adult patients with H1N1-related acute respiratory distress syndrome who were managed with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during the winter of 2013/2014.

Results: A total of 10 patients received veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for H1N1 influenza between January 2013 and March 2014.

Compelling argument for an agitated saline bubble study prior to cardiac transplantation.

Cardiac transplant recipients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) are at risk for right-to-left shunting. Failure to identify this abnormality can have serious posttransplant consequences. In this article, we describe a cardiac transplant recipient with hypoxemia where a PFO was diagnosed postoperatively despite direct surgical investigation at the time of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT).