Physical preconditioning on biventricular temporary mechanical circulatory support while awaiting heart transplantation.

Temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) is increasingly used in patients with cardiogenic shock as a bridge to further treatment. We present the case of a 52-year-old female patient with biventricular heart failure who was bridged to heart transplantation employing biventricular tMCS through a non-femoral access. The 'groin-free' tMCS concept facilitates pre-habilitation while awaiting heart transplantation.

Elastin stabilization prevents impaired biomechanics in human pulmonary arteries and pulmonary hypertension in rats with left heart disease.

Pulmonary hypertension worsens outcome in left heart disease. Stiffening of the pulmonary artery may drive this pathology by increasing right ventricular dysfunction and lung vascular remodeling. Here we show increased stiffness of pulmonary arteries from patients with left heart disease that correlates with impaired pulmonary hemodynamics.

Functional tricuspid valve insufficiency after cardiac transplantation: Which factor is the most important?

Objectives: Tricuspid insufficiency (TI) is the most common valvular complication following orthotopic heart transplantation (HTx) and in serious cases is associated with increased mortality. In this study, we analyze the possible variables influencing TI following HTx and aim to identify the most important risk factors and mechanisms responsible for functional TI development and progression.

Methods: We identified the incidence of TI within our institute in 857 of 1515 patients who underwent HTx using the biatrial anastomosis technique in the years between 1986 and 2010.

Assessment of hemostatic activation during cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary artery bypass grafting with bivalirudin: results of a pilot study.

Objective: Bivalirudin has been successfully used as a replacement for heparin during on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. This study was conducted to assess the effects of the currently suggested protocol for bivalirudin on hemostatic activation during cardiopulmonary bypass with and without cardiotomy suction.

Methods: Ten patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled.

Beneficial hemodynamic and renal effects of intravenous enalaprilat following coronary artery bypass surgery complicated by left ventricular dysfunction.

Objective: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are an effective therapy for all stages of heart failure due to reduced systolic left ventricular function. Because sufficient data on intravenous angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors following coronary artery bypass surgery complicated by postoperative left ventricular dysfunction are unavailable, the efficacy and safety of intravenously administered enalaprilat were evaluated.

Design: A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind protocol.

Prognosis after the implantation of an intra-aortic balloon pump in cardiac surgery calculated with a new score.

Background: Over the past decade, the use of a ventricular-assist device (VAD) in patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock has resulted in hospital discharge rates of 25% to 40% and is improving. Nevertheless, indications for and timing of the implantation of a VAD in patients who have received an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) remain unclear.

Methods And Results: From July 1996 to March 2000, 391 patients with cardiac low-output syndrome who underwent open-heart surgery and had an IABP implanted were analyzed in a retrospective pilot study.