Validity and Accuracy of the Derived Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure in Impella 5.5.

Background: Consensus regarding on-support evaluation and weaning concepts from Impella 5.5 support is scarce. The derived left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (dLVEDP), estimated by device algorithms, is a rarely reported tool for monitoring the weaning process.

Two Coupled Continuous-Flow Ventricular Assist Devices as a Novel BIVAD With One Driveline-Acute Animal Study Results.

Background: The study assesses the feasibility of the DuoCor BiVAS, a novel biventricular assist system integrating magnetic levitation technology.

Methods: In an acute large animal model involving five sheep, each received the DuoCor BiVAS without cardiopulmonary bypass. Hemodynamic and device parameters were monitored continuously for 1-h post-implantation.

Optimizing Myocardial Protection in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgeries: A Network Comparison of Del Nido, Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate, and Blood Cardioplegia.

: The optimal choice of cardioplegia solution in minimally invasive cardiac surgeries (MICS) remains debated, as prolonged myocardial protection is essential to avoid interruptions to the surgical flow, which can prolong aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time, especially in the constrained surgical field. We conducted a network meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the del Nido (DN), histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK), blood cardioplegia (BC), and St. Thomas' (STH) solutions in MICS.

Baroreflex activation therapy in advanced heart failure: A long-term follow-up.

Aims: Baroreceptor activation therapy (BAT) is a promising new treatment strategy for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). It provides symptomatic relief, improvement in left ventricular function and reduction of cardiac biomarkers. Data regarding the long-term effect of BAT on HFrEF are scarce.

Heart immunoengineering by lentiviral vector-mediated genetic modification during normothermic perfusion.

Heart transplantation is associated with major hurdles, including the limited number of available organs for transplantation, the risk of rejection due to genetic discrepancies, and the burden of immunosuppression. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of permanent genetic engineering of the heart during perfusion. Lentiviral vectors encoding for short hairpin RNAs targeting beta2-microglobulin (shβ2m) and class II transactivator (shCIITA) were delivered to the graft during two hours of normothermic EVHP.

Intraoperative haemoadsorption for antithrombotic drug removal during cardiac surgery: initial report of the international safe and timely antithrombotic removal (STAR) registry.

Intraoperative antithrombotic drug removal by haemoadsorption is a novel strategy to reduce perioperative bleeding in patients on antithrombotic drugs undergoing cardiac surgery. The international STAR registry reports real-world clinical outcomes associated with this application. All patients underwent cardiac surgery before completing the recommended washout period.

Hemodynamical Evaluation of a New Surgically Implanted Pulsatile Right Ventricular Assist Device Driven by a Conventional Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Console.

Severe right heart failure, often overlooked and challenging to manage, has prompted a growing interest in innovative approaches to provide functional support. This study uses experimentation in large porcine models to introduce a novel prototype of a pulsatile mechanical circulatory support device and document its effects when deployed as a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). The pulsatile ventricular assist platform (pVAP), featuring a membrane pump driven by an intra-aortic balloon pump console, actively generates pulsatile flow to propel right ventricular blood into the pulmonary artery.

Risk factors, prevention, and therapy of intraluminal stent thrombosis in frozen elephant trunk prostheses-what we know so far.

Intraluminal thrombus formation (ILT) is a recently discovered and highly clinically relevant complication after frozen elephant trunk implantation in cardiovascular surgery. In this phenomenon, a thrombus forms within the lumen of the stent graft component of the frozen elephant trunk prosthesis and puts the patient at risk for downstream embolization with visceral or lower limb ischemia. Incidence of ILT reported in the currently available studies ranges from 6% to 17% of patients after frozen elephant trunk implantation.

Fully magnetically centrifugal left ventricular assist device and long-term outcomes: the ELEVATE registry.

Background And Aims: HeartMate 3 (HM3) is a fully magnetically levitated continuous flow left ventricular assist device, which received CE marking in 2015. The ELEVATE Registry was initiated to collect real-world outcomes in patients treated with HM3 post-CE Mark approval.

Methods: A total of 540 subjects implanted at 26 centres between March 2015 and February 2017 were included in this registry.

Antibacterial copper-filled TiO coating of cardiovascular implants to prevent infective endocarditis-A pilot study.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) poses a significant health risk, especially in patients with prosthetic heart valves. Despite advances in treatment, mortality rates remain high. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial properties of a copper titanium dioxide (4× Cu-TiO) coating on cardiovascular implants against Staphylococcus aureus, a common causative agent of IE.

Interplay between driveline infection, vessel wall inflammation, cerebrovascular events and mortality in patients with left ventricular assist device.

In patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD), infections and thrombotic events represent severe complications. We investigated device-specific local and systemic inflammation and its impact on cerebrovascular events (CVE) and mortality. In 118 LVAD patients referred for F-FDG-PET/CT, metabolic activity of LVAD components, thoracic aortic wall, lymphoid and hematopoietic organs, was quantified and correlated with clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and outcome.

Left ventricular assist device implantation and concomitant mitral valve surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The management of concomitant valvular lesions in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation remains a topic of debate. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the existing evidence on postoperative outcomes following LVAD implantation, with and without concomitant MV surgery.

Methods: A systematic database search was conducted as per PRISMA guidelines, of original articles comparing LVAD alone to LVAD plus concomitant MV surgery up to February 2023.

Pre-emptive iron supplementation prevents myocardial iron deficiency and attenuates adverse remodelling after myocardial infarction.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) after myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We sought to investigate the functional importance of cardiac iron status after MI and the potential of pre-emptive iron supplementation in preventing cardiac iron deficiency (ID) and attenuating left ventricular (LV) remodelling.

Methods And Results: MI was induced in C57BL/6J male mice by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation.

Use of left atrial appendage as an autologous tissue source for epicardial micrograft transplantation during LVAD implantation.

We report here the first clinical use of the left atrial appendage (LAA) for epicardial micrograft transplantation during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Previously, a sample from the right atrial appendage (RAA) has been available for processing and administering micrograft therapy in cardiac surgery. Both LAA and RAA are rich sources of various types of myocardial cells and are capable of providing both paracrine and cellular support to the failing myocardium.

Changes in eligibility for a subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator after implantation of a left ventricular assist device-A prospective analysis.

Background: The number of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) implanted in patients with end-stage heart failure is increasing. In this patient cohort, subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) could be a promising alternative to transvenous ICDs due to lower infection rates and avoidance of venous access. However, eligibility for the S-ICD depends on ECG features that may be influenced by an LVAD.