Heart Transplant Centers With and Without Liver Transplant Programs: Analysis of Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients Metrics.

Introduction: We studied the relationship between heart transplant centers with and without liver transplant programs regarding volume, waitlist duration, waitlist survival, and 1-y posttransplant survival.

Methods: Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data were acquired in July 2023 and represented transplant centers with adult organ transplant volumes in the United States over the past year. This system involved a five-tier ranking system from one to five, where tier one programs had the lowest rating and tier five programs had the highest rating.

Leadership Practices, Organization Structure, and Other Factors Associated with Higher 2022-2023 US News and World Report Ranking.

Background: U.S. News and World Report 2022-2023 hospital rankings were used to investigate the leadership practices and organizational structure of ranked healthcare institutions.

Comparative Outcomes of Surgical and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-Analysis and Parametric Extrapolation of Clinical Trials.

Introduction: We aimed to pool randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and extrapolate pooled time-to-event data to compare long-term outcomes.

Methods: An electronic database search was performed for RCTs comparing SAVR with TAVR. The most current longest follow-up data for each RCT were included.

Surgeon and Hospital Factors Associated With Outcomes in the New York State Database.

Introduction: We sought to explore the relationship between various surgeon-related and hospital-level characteristics and clinical outcomes among patients requiring cardiac surgery.

Methods: We searched the New York State Cardiac Data Reporting System for all coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and valve cases between 2015 and 2017. The data were analyzed without dichotomization.

Isolated Tricuspid Valve Surgery for Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Background:  Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) adversely affects long-term survival; however, isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery has been rarely performed due to high operative mortality. In addition, the previous literature included heterogeneous TR etiologies. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate early and long-term outcomes of isolated TV surgery for functional TR.

Ultrasonic scalpel versus electrocautery for internal mammary artery harvesting: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Although an ultrasonic harmonic scalpel (HS) has been used to harvest the internal mammary artery (IMA) for coronary artery bypass grafting, the benefits and risks compared to conventional electrocautery (EC) are not clear. We aimed to compare the outcomes of HS versus EC for IMA harvesting.

Methods: An electronic search was performed to identify all relevant studies.

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices associated survival awaiting heart and heart-kidney transplant.

Background: Improvement in continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) technology has translated to better outcomes for patients on CF-LVAD support as a bridge-to-transplant. However, data are lacking regarding the subset of CF-LVAD patients with renal failure awaiting simultaneous heart-kidney transplant (HKTx). We sought to better understand the characteristics and outcomes of patients in this group.

Variation in survival in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A multi-institutional analysis of 594 consecutive patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at 49 hospitals within 21 states.

Objectives: We reviewed 594 consecutive patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at 49 hospitals within 21 states and examined patient characteristics, treatments, and variation in outcomes over the course of the pandemic.

Methods: A multi-institutional database was used to assess all patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 cannulated for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between March 17, 2020, and December 20, 2021, inclusive, and separated from ECMO on or prior to January 14, 2022. Descriptive analysis was stratified by 4 time categories: group A = March 2020 to June 2020, group B = July 2020 to December 2020, group C = January 2021 to June 2021, group D = July 2021 to December 2021.

Perioperative Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors Improve Major Outcomes of Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Propensity-Adjusted Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to study the association of perioperative administration of renin angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) and clinical outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF) undergoing cardiac surgery.

Summary Background Data: It is controversial whether the perioperative RASi should be administered in HF patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: A total of 2338 patients with HF and undergoing CABG and/or valve surgeries at multiple hospitals from 2001 to 2015 were identified from STS database.

Assessing donor-recipient size metrics for heart transplant outcomes: UNOS database analysis.

Study: There is no widely accepted donor to recipient size-match metric to predict outcomes in cardiac transplant. The predictive ability of size-match metrics has not been studied when recipients are stratified by heart failure etiology. We sought to assess the performance of commonly used size metrics to predict survival after heart transplant, accounting for restrictive versus non-restrictive pathology.

Cardiac transplantation after heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: A systematic review.

Purpose: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) presents a unique challenge in patients requiring orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). We sought to pool the existing evidence in a systematic review.

Methods: Electronic search was performed to identify all relevant studies on OHT in patients with HIT.

Extracorporeal life support and cardiopulmonary bypass for central airway surgery: A systematic review.

Background: Major airway surgery can pose a complex problem to perioperative central airway management. Adjuncts to advanced ventilation strategies have included cardiopulmonary bypass, veno-arterial, or veno-venous extracorporeal life support. We performed a systematic review to assess the existing evidence utilizing these strategies.

Development of malignancies and their outcomes in patients supported on continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices-a systematic review.

Background: With increased use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVAD), development of malignant tumors in this population is not uncommon. We sought to evaluate malignancies in CF-LVAD patients and evaluate the outcomes of treatment strategies.

Methods: Overall, 18 articles consisting of 28 patients were identified who developed malignancies after CF-LVAD placement.

Tricuspid regurgitation associated with implantable electrical device insertion: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and permanent pacemaker (PPM) lead placement may worsen or result in tricuspid regurgitation (TR). While the association between lead placement and the incidence of TR has been established, current understanding of this problem remains incomplete. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to pool the existing evidence to better understand the occurrence and severity of TR associated with cardiac implantable electrical device (CIED) insertion.

Outcomes of surgical treatment for carcinoid heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Carcinoid heart disease (CaHD) develops from vasoactive substances released by neuroendocrine tumors, which can cause significant patient morbidity and mortality without surgical intervention. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to elucidate granular perioperative details and long-term outcomes in these patients.

Methods: Electronic search of Ovid, Scopus, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register was performed to examine surgical treatment of carcinoid disease.

Evaluation of Endovascular Intervention for Tracheo-Innominate Artery Fistula: A Systematic Review.

Background: While the standard of care for suspected tracheo-innominate artery fistula (TIF) necessitates sternotomy, perioperative mortality remains high. Endovascular interventions have been attempted, but reports have been anecdotal. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the outcomes of endovascular management of TIF by pooling the existing evidence.

Driveline damage and repair in continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices: A systematic review.

With mounting time on continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) support, patients occasionally sustain damage to the device driveline. Outcomes associated with external and internal driveline damage and repair are currently not well documented. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of driveline damage and its repair.

Continuous-flow LVAD exchange to a different pump model: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the outcomes.

Despite improved outcomes of modern continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs), device exchange is still needed for various indications. While the majority of CF-LVADs are exchanged to the same model, exchange to a different pump model is occasionally warranted. In this meta-analysis, we sought to consolidate the existing evidence to better elucidate the indications and outcomes in these cases.

Sleeve Gastrectomy in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: A body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m is a relative contraindication to heart transplantation in patients with end-stage heart failure. Bariatric surgery can be considered either concomitantly with continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) placement, or staged after CF-LVAD has been placed. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of these approaches.

Outcomes of Extracorporeal Life Support Use in Accidental Hypothermia: A Systematic Review.

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has been used in the treatment of accidental hypothermia with hemodynamic instability, with promising outcomes. This systematic review examines ECLS treatment of accidental hypothermia to assess outcomes.

Methods: An electronic search was performed to identify articles reporting ECLS use for treatment of accidental hypothermia.

Outcomes of percutaneous temporary biventricular mechanical support: a systematic review.

Percutaneous biventricular assist devices (BiVAD) are a recently developed treatment option for severe cardiogenic shock. This systematic review sought to identify indications and outcomes of patients placed on percutaneous BiVAD support. An electronic search was performed to identify all appropriate studies utilizing a percutaneous BiVAD configuration.

Characteristics and outcomes of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices: A systematic review.

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common adverse event after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation. We sought to evaluate patterns of GIB development and related outcomes in CF-LVAD recipients. An electronic search was performed to identify all articles related to GIB in the setting of CF-LVAD implantation.

Comparison of SynCardia total artificial heart and HeartWare HVAD biventricular support for management of biventricular heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients undergoing SynCardia total artificial heart (TAH) and biventricular HeartWare ventricular assist device (Bi-HVAD) support for biventricular heart failure (HF).

Methods: Electronic search was performed to identify all relevant studies detailing patients who underwent biventricular assist device implantation using Bi-HVAD devices and those who underwent TAH placement for biventricular HF. Twelve studies including 512 patients in the TAH group versus 38 patients in the Bi-HVAD group were pooled for meta-analysis.

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation in patients with preexisting mechanical mitral valves: a systematic review.

: A preexisting mechanical mitral valve (MMV) is thought to be a thrombogenic risk factor after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation. We sought to evaluate the management and outcomes of preexisting MMVs in patients following CF-LVAD implantation.: An electronic search was performed to identify the presence of an MMV at the time of CF-LVAD implantation.