Survival trends in heart transplant patients supported on ECMO and IABP: A 10-year UNOS database analysis.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) heart transplant allocation policy was changed in 2018. This study examines the impact of the change in UNOS heart transplant allocation policy on the use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices and post-transplant survival. The analysis included a total of 26,481 patients listed and transplanted between January 2013 and June 2022.

Preemptive Impella 5.5 insertion to reduce operative risk in high-risk cardiac surgery: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Society of thoracic surgery (STS) risk score has been used as a tool to gauge operative risk of cardiac surgery patients. High-risk patients, with STS risk score > 8 %, are considered as having prohibitive risk and are not offered surgery. There is no established strategy to minimize postoperative hemodynamic instability using mechanical circulatory support (MCS), despite growing interest in utilizing MCS prior to hemodynamic instability.

Optical Coherence Tomography in the Assessment and Management of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

Purpose Of Review: Cardiac Allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major barrier to improving outcomes after heart transplantation. Coronary angiography has very low sensitivity to detect early CAV and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) only improves it to some extent. In this article, we detail the current evidence surrounding use of Optical Coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with CAV.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to advanced heart failure therapies.

Background: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is a key support modality for cardiogenic shock. The 2018 United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) heart transplant allocation algorithm prioritizes VA-ECMO patients.

Objective: To evaluate the role of VA-ECMO in bridging to advanced heart failure therapies.