Outcomes of HeartMate 3 in pediatric patients with end-stage heart failure: a single-center preliminary experience from Turkey.

Objectives: We aim to evaluate our initial experience with the HeartMate 3 (HM3) device (Abbott, USA) for palliating pediatric patients with end-stage heart failure (ESHF).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of clinical data from pediatric patients (aged 7-18 years) who underwent HM3 implantation for ESHF at our institution between 2022 and 2024. Patient demographics and follow-up data were comprehensively analyzed.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the Prediction of Right Heart Failure after Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: A Comprehensive Review.

One of the most challenging and prevalent side effects of LVAD implantation is that of right heart failure (RHF) that may develop afterwards. The purpose of this study is to review and highlight recent advances in the uses of AI in evaluating RHF after LVAD implantation. The available literature was scanned using certain key words (artificial intelligence, machine learning, left ventricular assist device, prediction of right heart failure after LVAD) was scanned within Pubmed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases.

Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Heart Failure Patients: Retrospective Single-Center Cohort Study.

We sought to investigate the impact of heart failure on anti-spike antibody positivity following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Our study included 103 heart failure (HF) patients, including those with and without left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) selected from our institutional transplant waiting list as well as 104 non-heart failure (NHF) patients who underwent open heart surgery at our institution from 2021 to 2022. All the patients received either heterologous or homologous doses of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac.

Retrospective Evaluation of COVID-19 Infection and COVID-19 Vaccines in Heart Transplant Patients.

Background: Patients who have performed solid organ transplantation in terms of COVID-19 infection are included in the high-risk group. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between vaccination and retrospective evaluation of 32 patients who underwent a heart transplant in the clinic and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction.

Methods: In this study, demographic characteristics of the cases, comorbidities, timing of heart transplantation, immunosuppressive treatments, symptoms of COVID-19 infection, lung imaging findings, follow-up (outpatient/inpatient), treatments, 1-month mortality, and vaccination histories against COVID-19 infection were evaluated.

Association of Nutritional Risk Index With Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Complications.

Background: Studies revealing the relationship between major surgery outcomes and nutritional parameters are increasing daily. Publications demonstrating the relationship between early postoperative success and surgical complications in patients with chronic heart failure and continuous flow left ventricular assist device (cf-LVAD) are limited. The vast majority of patients with advanced chronic heart failure are cachexic, and the reason for this is multifactorial.

Association of Age, Sex, and Heart Failure Etiology in Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients.

Background: Advanced heart failure studies demonstrate that ischemic factors increase in prevalence with age and are more prominent in men. Ejection fraction (EF) cannot be preserved in these patients, and ischemic cardiomyopathy develops. Non-ischemic factors are more prominent in female heart failure patients, where the EF is preserved.

Late outflow graft stenosis of left ventricular assist device and endovascular treatment.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) systems are preferred as a bridging to transplantation or as a destination therapy in the treatment of end-stage heart failure. LVAD-related complications are seen in different clinical variations with the widespread use of LVADs. Some of these complications are seen as related to outflow graft, such as graft stenosis, graft kinking and graft thrombosis.

Our Single Center Experiences with Left Ventricular Assist Device Exchange.

Background: Mechanical circulatory support technology continues to evolve to satisfy the needs of advanced heart failure patients. Despite improvements, various problems occur frequently, and surgical exchange of the pump can be a feasible treatment option. Optimal patient selection is key to success in exchange operations.

Clinical Modelling of RVHF Using Pre-Operative Variables: A Direct and Inverse Feature Extraction Technique.

Right ventricular heart failure (RVHF) mostly occurs due to the failure of the left-side of the heart. RVHF is a serious disease that leads to swelling of the abdomen, ankles, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A total of 506 heart-failure subjects from the Faculty of Medicine, Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Ege University, Turkey, who suffered from a severe heart failure and are currently receiving support from a ventricular assistance device, were involved in the current study.

Donor heart selection: Evidence-based guidelines for providers.

The proposed donor heart selection guidelines provide evidence-based and expert-consensus recommendations for the selection of donor hearts following brain death. These recommendations were compiled by an international panel of experts based on an extensive literature review.

Outcomes of patients with left ventricular assist device infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristics, course, and outcomes of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in heart failure patients with left ventricular assist device.

Methods: Between November 2020 and August 2021, a total of 20 patients (18 males, 2 females; mean age: 57.0+10.

Relation Between Frailty and 1-Year Outcomes After Implantation of a Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Frailty has been associated with morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure and those who underwent cardiac surgery. We aimed to study the effect of frailty on cardiovascular outcomes and the reversibility of frailty after the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. A total of 51 consecutive patients (44 men; aged 54 ± 10 years) scheduled to undergo LVAD implantation were assessed for frailty (Fried's phenotype, frail ≥3/5), cognitive function (using Mini-Cog), and depression (utilizing Patient Health Questionnaire-9) before the surgery and 3 months afterward.

Effects of Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy on Peripheral Vascular Function.

The peripheral vascular effects of continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation are still unclear. The aim of the current study was to determine peripheral vascular function before and after implantation of CF-LVAD in patients with end-stage heart failure (HF), and to compare this data to age- and sex-matched chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients. Forty-three consecutive end-stage HF patients (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III/IV; three women and 40 men; mean age 53 ± 11 years) who planned to receive CF-LVAD implantation comprised the LVAD patient population, and their clinical characteristics, preoperative and third postoperative month peripheral vascular function assessment data including flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and pulsatility index (PI) assessed by ultrasound Doppler in brachial artery were compared to age- and sex-matched chronic, stable HFrEF patients (NYHA class II; five women and 30 men; mean age 51 ± 10 years).

Long-Term Outcomes in Ventricular Assist Device Outflow Cannula Anastomosis to the Descending Aorta.

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation via thoracotomy with outflow cannula anastomosis to the descending aorta is an alternative implantation technique that uses a single incision and avoids anterior mediastinal planes. We evaluated long-term survival and hospital readmissions after LVAD implantation via thoracotomy with outflow cannula anastomosis to the descending aorta.

Methods: Adult patients implanted with a continuous flow centrifugal LVAD at an academic center were retrospectively analyzed.

Raising the bar to ultradisciplinary collaborations in management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is an underdiagnosed and potentially fatal subgroup of pulmonary hypertension, if left untreated. Clinical signs include exertional dyspnea and non-specific symptoms. Diagnosis requires multimodality imaging and heart catheterization.

Prognostic Value of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Parameters in Ventricular Assist Device Therapy.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) parameters are established prognosticators in heart failure. However, the prognostic value of preimplantation and postimplantation CPET parameters in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy is unclear and it is evaluated in this study. Adult patients who were implanted with an LVAD and underwent CPET during the preimplantation or postimplantation period were retrospectively analyzed.

Exercise capacity following ventricular assist device implantation via thoracotomy with outflow cannula anastomosis to the descending aorta.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation via left lateral thoracotomy with outflow cannula anastomosis to the descending aorta is an alternative technique that avoids anterior mediastinal planes and requires a single incision. This study compares changes in exercise capacity following LVAD implantation with outflow cannula anastomosis to the descending aorta versus ascending aorta. Adult patients who received a continuous flow centrifugal LVAD implantation and completed both pre- and postimplantation cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) and or 6-minute walk tests (6MWT) were included.

Association between the low percentage of forced vital capacity and increased mortality after left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of low percentage of forced vital capacity measured in the preoperative period on the 28-day mortality in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation.

Methods: A total of 131 patients (111 males, 20 females; median age 54 years; range, 47 to 59 years) who underwent left ventricular assist device implantation with HeartWare™ between December 2010 and January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the results of pulmonary function test as a forced vital capacity percentage of ≥60% (n=113) and <60% (n=18).

Association between caregivers' coping and children's psychiatric symptoms in the heart transplantation process: A pilot study.

Our aim was to investigate whether there is an association between caregivers' coping and children's psychiatric symptoms and quality of life in adolescent heart transplant (HTx) recipients and HTx candidates with left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Fourteen patients were recruited for this pilot study (HTx (n = 8), LVAD (n = 6)). Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children, Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS) was administered to detect the psychiatric diagnosis of patients.

Effect of Testosterone Level on Mortality in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background And Objectives: Testosterone deficiency is associated with mortality in patients with heart failure; however, its effects on patients undergoing Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation are unclear. We investigated the role of total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) levels on mortality undergoing LVAD implantation.

Methods: Between December 2010 and December 2014, 101 consecutive male patients who underwent LVAD implantation and had plasma testosterone measurement (TT and FT) in the last month before operation were included in the study.

Survival Benefit of Implantable-Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy in Ambulatory Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background: Analysis of the prognostic effect of concomitant use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and implantable -cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is lacking. The aim of this study is to define the survival effects of ICD therapy in ambulatory patients with LVAD.

Methods And Results: Patients with continuous-flow (cf) LVAD in a single tertiary center from December 2010 to May 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.

Prospective evaluation of ventricular assist device risk scores' capacity to predict cardiopulmonary exercise parameters.

Objectives: Risk scores for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy are known to predict morbidity and adverse events in addition to mortality. This study evaluates the capacity of popular LVAD risk scores to predict cardiopulmonary exercise parameters.

Methods: Adult patients undergoing continuous flow LVAD implantation were prospectively followed.

Left ventricular assist device implantation with left lateral thoracotomy with anastomosis to the descending aorta.

Objectives: Standard implantation of the HeartWare left ventricular assist system is performed using the full sternotomy approach. However, successful implantation of left ventricular assist devices in patients with a previous median sternotomy, especially in high-risk patients, remains challenging. Herein, we compared the HeartWare left ventricular assist system implantation by thoracotomy with anastomosis of the outflow graft to the descending aorta with the standard sternotomy approach.

Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Bleeding After Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device.

This study aimed to compare von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels, ristocetin cofactor levels, platelet counts, aortic valve movements, and right heart failure (RHF) as risk factors of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist device (cf-LVAD). In a single centre, 90 patients (mean age 52.0 ± 10.