Three-month outcomes after the implantation of two HeartMate 3 devices in total artificial heart configuration.

Background: Total artificial heart (TAH) implantation is a rarely performed procedure. Contrarily, left ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation is rather common in many centers. As transplantation is quantitatively limited cardiac replacement with artificial hearts is a viable alternative in the treatment of severe biventricular heart failure.

Left ventricular assist device therapy: the Kuwait experience.

Background: Heart Failure is an epidemic with a current prevalence of over 5.8 million patients in the USA and almost 23 million patients worldwide, with high associated mortality risks. The severe shortage of donor organs for cardiac transplants and increasing number of heart failure patients has led to the increasing popularity of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy for treatment of end-stage heart failure patients.

Deep sternal wound infection after coronary artery bypass: How to manage?

Mediastinitis is a devastating sternal wound complication. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence, risk factors, mortality, and different treatment modalities of mediastinitis after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. From January 2007 to May 2010, 1424 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were studied retrospectively; 1398 (group 1) had no mediastinitis, and 26 (group 2) developed mediastinitis.

Blood component transfusion in primary coronary artery bypass surgery in Kuwait.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the rate of blood product transfusion, associated perioperative factors and cost of such blood product transfusion in primary coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).

Subjects And Methods: The medical records of 159 consecutive primary CABG patients (142 male, 17 female) from January 1, 2003 to June 30, 2003 at Chest Diseases Hospital, Kuwait, were reviewed. Urgent and emergency cases were included.