Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Patients Undergoing Heart Transplantation: A 7-Year Experience.

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is the leading cause of early death after heart transplantation. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) can provide temporary mechanical circulatory support and time for functional recovery of the transplanted heart. The purpose of this study was to analyze the timing and prognoses of VA-ECMO in patients with severe PGD after heart transplantation.

[The predictive value of DE-CMR in patients with severe chronic aortic regurgitation and extremely dilated left ventricular chamber].

Objective: To determine whether preoperative contrast delay-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (DE-CMR) could help predict long-term survival of patients with severe chronic aortic regurgitation and extremely dilated left ventricular chamber after aortic valve replacement.

Methods: Totally 37 patients enrolled between February 2008 and November 2010 with severe chronic aortic regurgitation and extremely dilated left ventricular chamber, who met the echo criteria, that was left ventricular end diastolic dimension > 70 mm or left ventricular end systolic dimension > 55 mm, and were scheduled to the surgery. The 2-dimensional echocardiographic examinations and CMR with late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) were performed routinely preoperatively.

[Goal-directed renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery].

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of goal-directed renal replacement therapy(GDRRT) and daily high volume hemofiltration (dHVHF) in the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery.

Methods: Clinical data from 128 patients received either GDRRT (n = 64) or dHVHF (n = 64) for AKI after cardiac surgery were analyzed retrospectively. parameters examined included: urea nitrogen, serum creatinine (SCr, before and after treatment), heart rate, mean artery pressure (MAp, recorded within 72 hours after the initiation of renal replacement therapy).

[Orthotopic heart transplantation: clinical experience on 56 patients].

Objective: To summarize the clinical experience on 56 patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation.

Methods: Between May 2000 and December 2003 56 patients, 47 with cardiomyopathy, 2 with end-stage valvular heart disease, 2 with end-stage ischemic heart disease, 2 with primary malignant cardiac tumor, 1 with complicated congenital heart disease, 1 with muscular dystrophy cardiomyopathy, and 1 with refractory malignant ventricular arrhythmias, underwent orthotopic heart transplantation in the Transplantation Center of Fudan University. The operative procedures included 19 conventional Stanford orthotopic cardiac transplantation in 19 cases and bicaval anastomotic cardiac transplantation in 37 cases.