Effects of Percutaneous LVAD Support on Right Ventricular Load and Adaptation.

Both operative and hemodynamic mechanisms have been implicated in right heart failure (RHF) following surgical left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We investigated the effects of percutaneous LVAD (pLVAD; Impella®, Abiomed) support on right ventricular (RV) load and adaptation. We reviewed all patients receiving a pLVAD for cardiogenic shock at our institution between July 2014 and April 2017, including only those with pre- and post-pLVAD invasive hemodynamic measurements.

Epigenetic regulation in heart failure: part II DNA and chromatin.

Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms play key roles in cardiac development, differentiation, homeostasis, response to stress and injury, and disease. Human heart failure (HF) epigenetic regulatory mechanisms have not been deciphered to date. This 2-part review distills the rapidly evolving research focused on human HF epigenetic regulatory mechanisms.

Perioperative blood product use: a comparison between HeartWare and HeartMate II devices.

Background: The HeartWare (HW) (Framingham, MA) and the HeartMate II (HM II) (Thoratec Inc, Pleasanton, CA) continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) are commonly used to bridge patients to transplantation. We hypothesized that there are differences in perioperative blood product (BP) use and chest tube (CT) output between CF-LVAD types.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated BP use in 71 patients who were implanted with a CF-LVAD (HM II = 38; HW = 33) by median sternotomy for bridge to transplantation (BTT) indications from 2009 to 2013.

Does renal dysfunction and method of bridging support influence heart transplant graft survival?

Background: Renal insufficiency is common in status 1B patients supported with inotropes or a continuous flow left ventricular device (CF-LVAD) as a bridge to heart transplantation. We evaluated the association of renal function and inotrope versus CF-LVAD support on posttransplant graft survival in status 1B patients.

Methods: The Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients database was analyzed for posttransplant survival in status 1B patients bridged with inotropes or CF-LVAD who underwent transplantation between 2003 and 2012.

Are peripherally inserted central catheters associated with increased risk of adverse events in status 1B patients awaiting transplantation on continuous intravenous milrinone?

Background: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are used to deliver continuous intravenous (IV) milrinone in stage D heart failure (HF) patients awaiting heart transplantation (HT).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed PICC adverse events (AEs) and associated cost in 129 status 1B patients from 2005 to 2012. End points were HT, left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and death.

Institutional volume of heart transplantation with left ventricular assist device explantation influences graft survival.

Background: There are increasing numbers of patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) explantation (LVAD explant-OHT). We hypothesized that LVAD explant-OHT is a more challenging surgical procedure compared to OHT without LVAD explantation and that institutional LVAD explant-OHT procedural volume would be associated with post-transplant graft survival. We sought to assess the impact of institutional volume of LVAD explant-OHT on post-transplant graft survival.

Mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation: donor and recipient factors influencing graft survival.

Background: Mechanical circulatory support is an accepted strategy to bridge patients to heart transplantation (HTx). Among mechanical circulatory support patients who go on to HTx, factors associated with improved graft survival have not been fully elucidated.

Methods: Using the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients, we identified adults who were treated with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or total artificial heart (TAH) before HTx.

Contemporary management of tricuspid regurgitation: an updated clinical review.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a complex and insidious valvular pathology that represents a complex decision and management algorithm for patients. TR is present in a significant proportion of the population and is especially prevalent in patients with advanced heart failure. Patients with TR have been demonstrated to have a decreased survival even with normal left heart function.

Stem cell therapy for chronic heart failure: an updated appraisal.

Introduction: Significant advances have been made to understand the mechanisms involved in cardiac cell-based therapies. The early translational application of basic science knowledge has led to several animal and human clinical trials. The initial promising beneficial effect of stem cells on cardiac function restoration has been eclipsed by the inability of animal studies to translate into sustained clinical improvements in human clinical trials.

Benefits of ambulatory axillary intra-aortic balloon pump for circulatory support as bridge to heart transplant.

Objective: Axillary intra-aortic balloon pump therapy has been described as a bridge to transplant. Advantages over femoral intra-aortic balloon pump therapy include reduced incidence of infection and enhanced patient mobility. We identified the patients who would benefit most from this therapy while awaiting heart transplantation.

Familial evaluation for diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.

Most sudden cardiac deaths in young athletes are caused by previously undetected inherited cardiac diseases. Here, we report a case of a young male athlete in whom a presumptive diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) was made following a near sudden cardiac death. Although his imaging studies initially suggested HCM, a detailed clinical and genetic evaluation of the patient and his asymptomatic father led to the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVD) in both.

Reduction in mitral regurgitation during therapy guided by measured filling pressures in the ESCAPE trial.

Background: Dynamic mitral regurgitation (MR) contributes to decompensation in chronic dilated heart failure. Reduction of MR was the primary physiological end point in the ESCAPE trial, which compared acute therapy guided by jugular venous pressure, edema, and weight (CLIN) with therapy guided additionally by pulmonary artery catheters (PAC) toward pulmonary wedge pressure
Methods And Results: Patients were randomized to PAC or CLIN during hospitalization with chronic heart failure and mean left ventricular ejection fraction 20%, and at least 1 symptom and 1 sign of congestion.

High mortality without ESCAPE: the registry of heart failure patients receiving pulmonary artery catheters without randomization.

Background: In the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness (ESCAPE), there was no difference in days alive and out of the hospital for patients with decompensated heart failure randomly assigned to therapy guided by pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) plus clinical assessment versus clinical assessment alone. The external validity of these findings is debated.

Methods And Results: ESCAPE sites enrolled 439 patients receiving PAC without randomization in a prospective registry.

Characterization and prognostic value of persistent hyponatremia in patients with severe heart failure in the ESCAPE Trial.

Background: Mild hyponatremia is relatively common in patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF). To our knowledge, the association of hyponatremia with outcomes has not been evaluated in the context of in-hospital clinical course including central hemodynamics and changes in serum sodium level.

Methods: The ESCAPE trial (Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness) was a randomized, controlled study designed to evaluate the utility of a pulmonary artery catheter plus clinical assessment vs clinical assessment alone in guiding therapy in patients hospitalized with New York Heart Association class IV HF due to systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction <30%).

Survival in biopsy-proven myocarditis: a long-term retrospective analysis of the histopathologic, clinical, and hemodynamic predictors.

Objective: We hypothesized that histopathology predicts survival without cardiac transplantation in patients with biopsy-proven myocarditis.

Background: The role of endomyocardial biopsy in diagnosing myocarditis remains controversial. Histopathology has been integrated with clinical and hemodynamic features to predict prognosis.

Health outcomes in decompensated congestive heart failure: a comparison of tertiary hospitals in Brazil and United States.

Background: Few international studies prospectively compared evidence-based practices and health outcomes among congestive heart failure (CHF) cohorts from countries with different cultural and economic backgrounds.

Methods: Patients consecutively admitted with congestive heart failure to tertiary care teaching hospitals in Brazil and in the United States (U.S.

Effects of treatment recommendations and specialist intervention on care provided by primary care physicians to patients with myocardial infarction or heart failure.

Purpose: To assess the effects of an intervention involving dissemination of treatment recommendations to primary care physicians treating outpatients with acute myocardial infarction or heart failure.

Methods: The study comprised 509 patients with myocardial infarction and 323 patients with heart failure who were discharged from hospital. The primary care physicians caring for these patients were assigned randomly to either the intervention or control group; the intervention group was mailed practice guidelines immediately after patient discharge, and patients were cited by name.

Hospital outcomes in major teaching, minor teaching, and nonteaching hospitals in New York state.

Purpose: The possible benefit that hospital teaching status may confer in the care of patients with cardiovascular disease is unknown. Our purpose was to determine the effect of hospital teaching status on in-hospital mortality, use of invasive procedures, length of stay, and charges in patients with myocardial infarction, heart failure, or stroke.

Subjects And Methods: We analyzed a New York State hospital administrative database containing information on 388 964 consecutive patients who had been admitted with heart failure (n = 173 799), myocardial infarction (n = 121 209), or stroke (n = 93 956) from 1993 to 1995.

Tricuspid Regurgitation and Right Heart Dimensions at Early and Late Follow-Up After Orthotopic Cardiac Transplantation.

Tricuspid regurgitation is common immediately after cardiac transplantation, but its course over long-term follow-up is not known. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of valvular regurgitation and to evaluate if pulmonary hypertension or right ventricular enlargement were associated with the severity of tricuspid regurgitation at early and late follow-up after cardiac transplantation. Fifty-five patients had hemodynamic and echocardiographic studies performed at 1 week and 2.