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Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a progressive disease that can be addressed only partially by medical therapy. Progression of TR is associated with worsening end-organ function and worse survival, yet tricuspid valve interventions are usually only performed in advanced stages. Recent evidence suggests a pivotal role for TR and pulsatile venous congestion in the pathophysiology of renal and hepatic dysfunction. This critical knowledge has provided the opportunity to optimally define the appropriate timing of transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions, integrating concurrent or impending functional consequences with severity of TR.

Growing insights into the pathophysiology of acute cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) in acute decompensated heart failure have indicated that not every rise in creatinine is associated with adverse outcomes. Detection of persistent volume overload and diuretic resistance associated with creatinine rise may identify patients with true acute CRS. More in-depth phenotyping is needed to identify pathologic processes in renal arterial perfusion, venous outflow, and microcirculatory-interstitial-lymphatic axis alterations that can contribute to acute CRS. Recently, various novel device-based interventions designed to target different pathophysiologic components of acute CRS are in early feasibility and proof-of-concept studies. However, appropriate trial endpoints that reflect improvement in cardiorenal trajectories remain elusive and highly debated. In this review the authors describe the variety of physiological derangements leading to acute CRS and the opportunity to individualize the management of acute CRS with novel renal assist devices that can target specific components of these alterations.

Resting myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) are reduced in heart failure (HF) patients supported by pulsatile left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). The effect of continuous-flow (CF) physiology on these parameters is underexplored in CF-LVAD patients. We investigated the impact of CF-LVADs on resting MBF and MFR under two left ventricular (LV) loading conditions. Nine HeartMate II patients (42 ± 12 years, 100% male) on support for 370 ± 281 days were enrolled. Results were compared with 9 HF patients (58 ± 13 years, 67% male, LV ejection fraction 27 ± 9%) and 10 healthy volunteers (56 ± 10 years, 20% male). CF-LVAD patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography with ramp study. MBF and MFR were measured utilizing positron emission/computed tomography imaging under two LV loading conditions: “high-speed” (HS), promoting aortic valve (AV) closure and LV unloading; “low-speed” (LS), promoting AV opening and LV loading. Global resting MBF was similar in HS, LS, HF, and healthy: 0.8 ± 0.3, 0.7 ± 0.3, 0.7 ± 0.1, 0.9 ± 0.2 ml/min/g, respectively; p= NS. HS global MFR was reduced compared with LS and HF: 1.6 ± 0.6 versus1.9 ± 0.5, p= 0.004; 1.6 ± 0.6 versus2.4 ± 0.5, p= 0.01, respectively. HS regional MFR was reduced compared with LS in the left anterior descending (1.7 ± 0.7 vs.2.0 ± 0.6, p= 0.027) and left circumflex (1.8 ± 0.7 vs.2.2 ± 0.9, p= 0.008), but not in right coronary artery (1.7 ± 0.7 vs.1.7 ± 0.6, p= 0.76). Resting MBF is preserved among CF-LVAD patients and is similar to HF and healthy. Promoting LV ventricular unloading with higher speed was associated with lower global and regional left coronary MFR, while right coronary MFR did not change.

Recent clinical trials have highlighted the profound benefits of sodium-glucose linked transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for heart failure patients. Modest improvements in glycemic, lipid, or blood pressure control are unlikely to contribute to these significant beneficial outcomes, generating much interest in the relevant mechanisms leading to outcome improvements. In this review, we discuss the current evidence supporting a shift in myocardial substrate utilization from carbohydrates and fat oxidation toward energy efficient ketone bodies in the failing heart and the role of SGLT2i in this key metabolic adaptation to optimize myocardial fuel energetics. Further insights into the effect of SGLT2i on the indices of cardiorespiratory fitness are outlined and provide important clues into their mechanism of benefit. This mechanistic discussion in the context of recent trials of SGLT2i denotes a promising treatment paradigm of heart failure in individuals with and without diabetes.

The Jarvik 2000 bridge to transplant investigational device exemption study was a multicentered, prospective study of 150 UNOS status I patients implanted with the Jarvik 2000 between 2005 and 2012. During the study period, there were numerous modifications of the system that included converting from pin to cone bearings. Results were analyzed for three cohorts: total (n = 150), pin (n = 128), and cone (n = 22). Baseline demographics included age (52 ± 13), gender (79% male), size (BSA 1.98), and etiology (37% idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy; 43% Ischemic). Seventy percent of patients were either INTERMACS 1 or 2. The primary endpoint—defined as successful transplantation or listing at 180 days (prespecified at 65%; 95% lower CI: 57%)—was successfully achieved for the total cohort (67.3%; 95% CI: 59.5%–74.3%; p= 0.006). In subgroup analysis of the more contemporary, cone-bearing group, the primary endpoint was met in 91% (95% CI: 72%–97.5%; p= 0.001). Compared with pin patients, cone-bearing patients had less hemolysis as well as decreased end-organ dysfunction. Functional and quality of life scores improved after implantation independent type of bearing. In conclusion, despite a particularly sick patient population, the Jarvik 2000 was shown to be effective in supporting the advanced HF patient.

Stroke is one of the leading complications following durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) implantation. The aim of this multicenter study was to investigate stroke complications in patients requiring durable MCS following extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Data of 11 high volume MCS centers were collected and evaluated to identify patients who underwent durable MCS implantation after ECLS support between January 2010 and August 2018. The primary outcome was stroke following durable MCS implantation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of stroke. Overall, 531 patients met the inclusion criteria. Only patients who were supported with continuous flow pumps were included in this study accounting for 495 patients (median age 54 years old [interquartile range 47–60]). A total of 136 patients (27%) developed postoperative stroke on device during the follow-up (48% ischemic and 52% hemorrhagic) after a median durable MCS support of 320 [32–1,000] days, accounting for 0.17 events per patient-year. Of 133 patients with known date of stroke, a total of 47 (10%) developed stroke during the first 30 days (64% ischemic and 36% hemorrhagic), and 86 patients developed stroke after 30 days (38% ischemic and 62% hemorrhagic) of durable MCS support (late stroke). Survival rate was significantly lower in patients with hemorrhagic stroke (p= 0.00091). Stroke appears to be a common complication in patients transitioned to durable MCS support after ECLS. Hemorrhagic stroke is a more common type of late stroke and is associated with inferior outcomes.

Anticoagulation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for Coronovirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be performed by direct or indirect thrombin inhibitors but differences in outcomes with these agents are uncertain. A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted. All consecutive adult patients with COVID-19 placed on ECMO between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021 in participating centers, were included. Patients were divided in groups receiving either a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) or an indirect thrombin inhibitor such as unfractionated heparin (UFH). Overall, 455 patients with COVID-19 from 17 centers were placed on ECMO during the study period. Forty-four patients did not receive anticoagulation. Of the remaining 411 patients, DTI was used in 160 (39%) whereas 251 (61%) received UFH. At 90-days, in-hospital mortality was 50% (DTI) and 61% (UFH), adjusted hazard ratio: 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49–1.32. Deep vein thrombosis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.60, 95% CI: 0.90–6.65], ischemic (aOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 0.18–14.0), and hemorrhagic (aOR:1.22, 95% CI: 0.39–3.87) stroke were similar with DTI in comparison to UFH. Bleeding requiring transfusion was lower in patients receiving DTI (aOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.18–0.87). Anticoagulants that directly inhibit thrombin are associated with similar in-hospital mortality, stroke, and venous thrombosis and do not confer a higher risk of clinical bleeding in comparison to conventional heparin during ECMO for COVID-19.

Regulatory oversight for heart transplant programs is currently under review by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). There is concern whether 1-year patient and graft survival truly represent heart transplant center performance. Thus, a forum was organized by the Thoracic and Critical Care Community of Practice (TCC COP) of the American Society of Transplantation (AST) for the heart transplant community to voice their opinions on matters involving program performance monitoring by UNOS. A TCC COP work group was formed to review outcome metrics for adult heart transplantation and culminated in a virtual community forum (72 participants representing 61 heart transplant programs) on November 12–13, 2020. One-year posttransplant survival is still considered an appropriate and important measure to assess program performance. Waitlist mortality and offer acceptance rate as pretransplant metrics could also be useful measures of program performance, recognizing that outside factors may influence these metrics. In depth discussion of these metrics and other issues including auditing thresholds, innovations to reduce risk-averse behavior and personally designed program scorecards are included in this meeting proceedings.

The HeartMate Percutaneous Heart Pump (PHP) is a novel circulatory support catheter delivering a self-expanding 24 French impeller across the aortic valve. The SHIELD II trial compares outcomes among heart failure patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI) with the PHP versusImpella systems. The trial was halted in 2017 due to device malfunctions. We aimed to describe procedural, hemodynamic, and clinical outcomes among HR-PCI patients treated with PHP as part of the SHIELD II trial roll-in phase. Procedural, hemodynamic, and 90 day outcomes were assessed among patients undergoing HR-PCI with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% and last patent coronary conduit, unprotected left main disease, or significant three vessel disease. The primary endpoint was the 90 day composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat revascularization, major bleeding, new/worsening aortic regurgitation, and severe hypotension. Among 75 roll-in phase patients, PHP support duration was 101 ± 53 minutes with 2.5 ± 1.4 coronary lesions treated per patient. Compared with predevice values, the PHP system increased cardiac power and mean arterial pressure. Maximum recorded device flows were 0.4–6.2 L/minute with 26% (n = 19/73) and 9.6% (n = 7/73) of patients achieving peak flows above 3.5 or 5.0 L/minute, respectively. Five PHP device malfunction events (6.7%) were observed. At 90 days, the composite endpoint occurred in 24.3% (18/74) of patients. Early PHP experience demonstrated successful device performance in the majority of enrolled patients; however, unexpected malfunctions led to device revision. Completion of the SHIELD II trial will be required to confirm the safety and efficacy of this iteration of the PHP system in HR-PCI.

Advanced imaging is often used to supplement clinical information in guiding management for patients with heart failure. 3 dimensional (3D) imaging datasets allow for a better understanding of the relevant cardiac spatial anatomic relationships. 3D printing technology takes this one step further and allows for the creation of patient-specific physical cardiac models. In this review, we summarize some of the recent innovative applications of this technique to patients with heart failure from different etiologies, to provide more patient-directed care.

The optimal duration and frequency of routine surveillance endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) have been questioned in the current era of heart transplantation (HT), where the advances in immunosuppression and donor selection strategies have led to a decline in acute allograft rejection. We investigated the utility of routine EMB beyond 6 months post‐HT. A single‐center retrospective review was performed on 2963 EMBs from 220 HT recipients over 10 years. Each EMB was categorized into protocol or symptom‐triggered biopsy and reviewed for rejection. Heart transplant recipients with ≥2 known risk factors for rejection were designated as an elevated risk group. The majority of rejections occurred within 3 months following HT. The yield of routine protocol EMBs was significantly lower than symptom‐triggered EMBs, not only during the first 6 months post‐HT (1.6% vs. 33.3%, P< .0001), but more so during the 6‐12 months (0.1% vs 83.0%, P< .0001). A similar pattern was observed in heart transplant recipients at both elevated and standard risk for rejection. In conclusion, EMB was found to be a low‐yield screening modality for rejection beyond 6 months post‐HT. Surveillance endomyocardial biopsies performed more than 6 months after heart transplant are rarely informative. An editorial from Guerrero‐Miranda and Hall is on page 453.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.Fibrinogen is a clotting factor and a major determinant of platelet aggregation. Albumin, on the other hand, inhibits platelet function and thrombus formation. Taken together, an elevated fibrinogen albumin ratio (FAR) has been described as a marker of disease severity during prothrombotic conditions. We evaluated the association of FAR and ischemic stroke during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) support. A single center, retrospective study was performed including all adult patients placed on VA ECMO. FAR was calculated from fibrinogen and albumin measurements in the first 24 hours of VA-ECMO initiation. Patients were categorized into high (≥125) and low (<125) FAR groups and the risk of eventual ischemic stroke was determined. There were 201 patients who underwent VA ECMO placement and 157 had a FAR. They were 56 ± 14 years old and 66 (42%) had a high FAR. Patients with a high FAR had lower survival free from an ischemic stroke during VA ECMO (log rank p< 0.001; adjusted hazard ratio 5.51; 95% CI: 1.8–16.5). In tertile analysis, the level of FAR was associated with an incrementally higher likelihood of eventual ischemic stroke (log rank p= 0.004). Those with a high FAR had greater mean platelet volume (10.8[10.4–12] vs.10.5[10.2–11.9]fl, p= 0.004). An elevated FAR during the first 24 hours of VA ECMO placement is associated with a greater risk of a subsequent ischemic stroke. Our findings suggest that assessment of FAR soon after VA ECMO placement may assist with early stratification of patients at risk for an ischemic stroke.

Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) is an alternative to Donation after Brain death (DBD), and is a growing strategy for organ procurement in the United States(US). The purpose of this analysis was to review the number and quality of hearts in one United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Region that were not utilized as a potential consequence of nonheart DCD donation. We retrospectively identified all successful US DCD solid organ donors from 1/2011 to 3/1/2017, defined an ideal heart donor by age and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and then reviewed the donor charts of unused hearts in New York and Vermont (UNOS Region 9). Of 8302 successful DCD donors across the United States, 5033 (61%) were between 18 and 49 years of age, and 872 had a screening echocardiogram, with 573 (66%) measuring an EF >50%. Of these 573 potential donors, 44 (7.7%) were from Region 9. Detailed donor chart review identified 36 ideal heart donors, 24 (66.7%) with anoxic brain injury. Trends in Region 9 DCD donation increased from 4 unused hearts in 2011, to 13 in 2016. In the context of severe organ scarcity, these data indicate that implementation of DCD heart transplantation in the United States would improve overall donation rates and provide a pathway to utilize these ideal donor hearts.

This study sought to determine whether the nasal mucosa can serve as a surrogate for evaluating arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) related gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients supported by continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF LVADs).

Human immunodeficiency virus–positive (HIV+) patients are not routinely offered heart transplantation (HT) due to lack of adequate outcomes data. Between January 2004 and March 2017, we identified 41 adult (≥18 years) HT recipients with known HIV+ serostatus at the time of transplant in UNOS and evaluated post‐HT outcomes. Overall, Kaplan‐Meier (KM) estimates of survival at 1 and 5 years were 85.9% and 77.3%, respectively, with no significant difference in bridge‐to‐transplant ventricular‐assist device (BTT‐VAD, n = 22) and no‐BTT‐VAD (n = 19). KM estimates of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and malignancy at 5 years were 32% and 19%, respectively. Using propensity scores, 41 HIV+ HT recipients were matched to 41 HIV‐ HT recipients for idiopathic dilated‐cardiomyopathy; and there was no significant difference in post‐HT survival up to 5 years. Furthermore, only 24 centers in the United States had performed HIV+ HT during the study period, indicating that >80% of HT centers in the United States had not performed any HIV+ HT. In a cohort representative of the current status of HIV+ HTs in the United States, we found that the posttransplant survival was excellent and rates of CAV and malignancy were comparable to the overall HT population. These results should encourage greater number of centers to offer HT to suitable HIV+ candidates and help reduce unequal access to HT for HIV+ patients. In a large cohort of HIV+ heart transplants, the authors find that HIV+ patients have excellent posttransplant outcomes similar to HIV‐ patients, results which should help reduce unequal access to heart transplantation for HIV+ patients.

The reliability and validity of a palpable pulse and other noninvasive measures of pulsatility in patients on continuous-flow (CF) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support have not been rigorously evaluated. We prospectively enrolled 23 patients who had CF-LVAD and an arterial catheter for blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Pulse pressure (PP) viathe arterial line was compared with three noninvasive measures of pulsatility: presence of a palpable pulse, pulsatility index (PI), and aortic valve opening (AVO). In addition, the relationship between Doppler BP (DopBP) and arterial line pressures was evaluated. The study group comprised 30% females, 73% nonischemic cardiomyopathy, 87% axial flow device (HeartMate II [HMII]), and 13% centrifugal flow device (HeartWare ventricular assist device [HVAD]) support. Among four practitioners, the interobserver agreement for the presence of a palpable pulse was moderate (k= 0.41; 95% CI, 0.28–0.60). If the PP was ≥15 mm Hg, a radial pulse was palpated 82% of the time, whereas when the PP was <15 mm Hg, a radial pulse was palpated only 35% of the time. In subjects with a palpable pulse, there was a strong correlation between DopBP and systolic BP (SBP) (r= 0.94; 95% CI, 0.82–0.99), whereas the correlation between DopBP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was much weaker (r= 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19–0.96). In subjects without a palpable pulse, there was a strong correlation between both the DopBP and SBP (r= 0.94; 95% CI, 0.80–1.0) and DopBP and MAP (r= 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77–1.00). Finally, PP was significantly associated with PI (odds ratio [OR], 0.3; 95% CI, 0.14–0.45; p= 0.0002) but not AVO (OR, 1.41: 95% CI, 0.70–2.83; p= 0.33). The presence of a palpable pulse has good interobserver agreement and allows for dichotomization of the DopBP to reflect the SBP in its presence and the MAP in its absence. This simple measure should be incorporated into BP management algorithms for CF-LVADs. The PI shows a modest correlation to PP.

Advanced imaging modalities provide essential anatomic and spatial information in patients with complex heart disease. Two-dimensional imaging can be limited in the extent to which true 3-dimensional (3D) relationships are represented. The application of 3D printing technology has increased the creation of physical models that overcomes the limitations of a 2D screen. Many groups have reported the use of 3D printing for preprocedural planning in patients with different causes of heart failure. This paper reviews the innovative applications of this technique to provide patient-specific models to improve patient care.

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) are increasingly used for the management of advanced heart failure refractory to optimal medical therapy. Despite the encouraging outcomes with CF-LVADs, gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) continues to be a rather concerning complication resulting in increased rates of readmission and increased morbidity. The exact pathophysiology of CF-LVAD-associated GIB remains poorly understood, and this lack of knowledge limits our ability to control this morbid complication. What is clear, however, is that the majority of GIB episodes in LVAD patients are due to fragile GI arteriovenous malformations or angiodysplasias, in the setting of CF-LVAD-associated acquired von Willebrand syndrome. We will, herein, appraise the proposed interactions between different pathophysiological processes thought to be causing angiodysplasias and GIB in patients on CF-LVAD support.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a major complication of continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF LVAD) therapy. The precise pathophysiology of CF LVAD–related bleeding remains poorly understood, and the effect of pump removal at the time of transplantation on actual bleeding frequency has not previously been studied. A single-center retrospective review was conducted on patients who received CF LVAD and subsequently developed GIB. Baseline demographics and markers of pulsatility (aortic valve opening and the HeartMate II [HM2] pulse index) were compared between those with and without GIB. In those patients who had GIB and proceeded to heart transplantation, the frequency and etiology of recurrent GIB post-transplant was assessed. A total of 88 GIBs occurred in 54 of 214 patients who received CF LVAD implantation (25%, 0.36 events per patient-year). Median time to first bleeding was 65 (interquartile range [IQR]: 37–229) days, and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was the etiology in 36% of all episodes. On multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.09; p= 0.006) and HM2 pulse index (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.35–0.90; p= 0.017) were significantly associated with GIB. There were 28 patients who had at least one GIB event during LVAD support and proceeded to transplant. None of these patients had recurrent bleeding after heart transplantation. This is the first documentation that transplantation effectively eliminates CF LVAD–related GIB. Current guidelines recommending prioritization for transplant for patients who develop recurrent GIB after CF LVAD are justified.

This study sought to determine outcomes of adult recipients of early adolescent (EA) (10 to 14 years) donor hearts.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2010.04.028 Byline: Hiroo Takayama (a), Yoshifumi Naka (a), Ulrich P. Jorde (b), Allan S. Stewart (a) Author Affiliation: (a) Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (b) Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY Article History: Received 8 March 2010; Revised 14 April 2010; Accepted 26 April 2010 Article Note: (footnote) Disclosures: None.

Los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca avanzada tienen mal pronóstico y el trasplante cardiaco es actualmente la mejor opción de tratamiento disponible. Sin embargo, la escasez de donantes, los largos tiempos de espera y un número creciente de pacientes inestables han favorecido el desarrollo del soporte circulatorio mecánico. Esta revisión resume las indicaciones del trasplante cardiaco, cómo evaluar a los posibles candidatos, las estrategias actuales de inmunosupresión, cómo evaluar y tratar el rechazo, la profilaxis infecciosa y los resultados a corto y largo plazo. Respecto al soporte circulatorio mecánico, se diferencia entre las asistencias ventriculares de corto y largo plazo, así como las diferentes estrategias disponibles: puente hasta la decisión, recuperación, candidatura, trasplante y terapia de destino. Posteriormente se resumen las indicaciones, la valoración del riesgo previo al implante, el manejo de las complicaciones, especialmente de las asistencias de largo plazo y los resultados. Finalmente se plantean los retos futuros y cómo el uso generalizado de las asistencias ventriculares de largo plazo para pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca avanzada solo será viable si se reducen sus complicaciones y costes.

The purpose of this review is to highlight recent advances and challenges in the clinical implementation of continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF LVADs) in patients with advanced heart failure. Post approval studies of CF LVAD therapy continue to show a progressive improvement in survival and reduction in adverse events. Major trials are ongoing to compare outcomes of an axial flow device (Heart Mate II) and smaller centrifugal flow pumps (HeartWare VADs and Heart Mate III). Numerous studies have investigated strategies to reduce major hematologic and neurologic adverse events by evaluating hemolysis, antithrombotic therapy, and blood pressure control. This review will present the current findings that are centered around the impact of CF LVADs on improving survival and reducing adverse events through an evolution in management and design.

BackgroundCentre volume is an important determinant of outcomes in patients requiring complex medical treatments or surgical procedures. Heart failure hospitalisation (HFH) has become an increasingly complex and resource intensive clinical event. We evaluated the effect of centre volume on mortality and costs in patients with HFH.MethodsThis was a retrospective registry-based analysis of adult patients discharged with a primary diagnosis of HF from hospitals across New York (NY) State over a 5-year period, between January 2009 and December 2013, using the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System inpatient discharge files. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. All patients were followed from the day of admission to either in-hospital death or discharge alive.Results300 972 HFHs from 198 facilities across NY State were included. Five-year centre volume was associated with a decrease in in-hospital mortality in unadjusted (HR=0.872, 95% CI 0.863 to 0.881, p<0.001) and adjusted Cox models (HR=0.869, 95% CI 0.859 to 0.879, p<0.001). After dividing the overall cohort into three groups based on 5-year centre volume, groups with medium and high volume centres had lower in-hospital mortality when compared with the group with low volume centres. The results were consistent in various subgroup analyses. Furthermore, hospitals in the higher centre volume groups had increased HFH costs across different severity of illness categories and involved increased use of cardiac procedures.ConclusionsHigher centre volume was associated with lower HFH mortality but increased HFH costs and increased cardiac procedures in a cohort of Medicare and non-Medicare beneficiaries.

Over the past decade, continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) have become the mainstay of therapy for end stage heart failure. While the number of patients on support is exponentially growing, at present there are no American Heart Association or European Society of Cardiology Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support guidelines for the management of this unique patient population. We propose an algorithm for the hospitalized unresponsive CF-LVAD patient outside of the intensive care unit setting. Key elements of this algorithm are: creation of a dedicated LVAD code pager and LVAD code team; early assessment and correction of LVAD malfunction; early determination of blood flow using Doppler technique in carotid and femoral arteries; prompt administration of external chest compressions in the absence of Doppler flow; bedside veno-arterial extracorporeal membranous oxygenation support if no response to resuscitation measures; and early consideration for stroke.

There is insufficient data on patients with small body size to determine if this should be considered a risk factor for continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) support. We sought to evaluate survival outcomes, adverse events, and functional status of CF-LVAD patients with body surface area (BSA) <1.5 m2in a large national registry. Adults with BSA < 1.5 m2(n = 128) implanted with a HeartMate II (HMII)-LVAD from the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support registry from April 2008 to December 2012 formed this cohort. Outcomes were compared with HMII bridge to transplant (BTT) and destination therapy (DT) post approval studies. The majority of patients were female (n = 106, 83%). A total of 64% (n = 82) were implanted for BTT and 36% (n = 46) for DT. The median BSA (range) was 1.44 (1.19–1.49) and 1.45 (1.25–1.49) m2for BTT and DT, respectively. Overall survival 1 year post implant was 81% ± 5% for BTT and 84% ± 6% for DT. The most common adverse events for BTT and DT patients were bleeding (0.91, 0.88 events/patient year) and driveline infection (16%, 0.28 events/patient year). Six months post implantation, 87% of BTT and 77% of DT patients were New York Heart Association functional class I or II. Post implant survival, functional status improvement, and adverse event profile for adult BTT and DT HMII patients with BSA < 1.5 m2are favorable and comparable with outcomes published in the overall patient population.

Introduction:Non-ST Segment Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) occurs frequently in patients with pre-existing Heart Failure (HF) and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). However, outcomes with invasive approaches such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or medical management remain uncertain.Hypothesis:Given severe comorbidity burden, patients with HF and ESRD admitted for NSTEMI may experience higher in-hospital mortality with an invasive strategy of PCI.Methods:We utilized the National Inpatient Sample to capture hospitalizations in the United States from 2006-2014. Admissions for NSTEMI were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 401.7x. The sample was further narrowed by coexisting diagnoses of HF (ICD-9-CM: 428.xx) and ESRD (ICD-9-CM 585.6). The cohort was divided into those that received PCI or medical management only. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality between invasive and medical management only groups.Results:During the study period, 14,333 hospitalizations were identified for NSTEMI in patients with coexisting HF and ESRD. Within this cohort, 3,549 (25%) underwent PCI (age: 66±11 years,42% female) and 10,784 (75%) were managed with medications (age: 69±12 years, 45% female) only. In-hospital mortality was 5% in the PCI group in comparison to 10% in those managed with medications only (p<0.01). After adjustment for clinical covariates including age, sex and diabetes mellitus, PCI was associated with lower odds of death during hospitalization (aOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.44-0.61, p<0.01).Conclusions:Patients with HF and ESRD admitted for NSTEMI do not incur greater in-hospital mortality with PCI, despite a high burden of comorbidities. Invasive percutaneous revascularization may be reasonable for appropriately selected patients with HF and ESRD.

Myocarditis is a rare complication following mRNA-based COVID vaccinations. While the risk appears to be greatest in adolescent males, increased rates of myocarditis following COVID vaccination have been documented in both sexes and across multiple age groups.In this case, a 59-year-old woman with history of mild COVID infection developed unexplained fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, and intermittent chest discomfort several days after receiving her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. She was seen in the emergency department at the onset of symptoms and found to have a dynamic troponin elevation peaking at 177 ng/L. A comprehensive workup including regadenoson stress testing, CT scan of the chest with contrast, and ambulatory cardiac monitoring failed to demonstrate an etiology. She subsequently received a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine which resulted in worsening cardiopulmonary symptoms that persisted over the next several months. Her symptoms were initially attributed to long COVID, and she was provided supportive care and an SSRI for anxiety. After reevaluation in the Cardiology clinic, the patient underwent cardiac MRI revealing edema in the basal lateral wall and late gadolinium enhancement in a subepicardial distribution, suggestive of myocardial inflammation. She was treated with prednisone 50 mg daily and colchicine 0.6 mg twice daily resulting in resolution of chest pain. A repeat MRI performed two weeks later showed complete resolution of myocardial edema with residual subepicardial LGE in the basal lateral wall consistent with prior myocarditis.This case demonstrates the pitfalls of relying on a diagnosis of ‘long COVID’ to explain concerning cardiac symptoms of uncertain etiology and highlights post-vaccine myocarditis as an important differential in the COVID-19 era. At this time, it is unclear how many patients experience persistent cardiopulmonary symptoms following COVID vaccination and whether a subset of these patients have undiagnosed myocarditis. It is important for clinicians to be alert to the possibility of post-vaccine myocarditis in patients presenting with persistent symptoms following vaccination, regardless of demographic profile.

High-output heart failure (HOHF) is a rare complication of multiple myeloma and is believed to be related to arteriovenous shunting in osseous myeloma lesions. Timely diagnosis is crucial, as these patients respond best to aggressive treatment of the underlying malignancy.In this case, a 51-year-old man with multiple myeloma complicated by extensive osseous disease was admitted from oncology clinic for several weeks of worsening dyspnea, early satiety, and bilateral leg swelling. His exam was notable for signs of volume overload, and the BNP was elevated to 1444 pg/ml. An echocardiogram showed new right ventricular dysfunction. After the patient failed to respond to escalating doses of intravenous diuretics, right heart catheterization was performed and revealed elevated biventricular filling pressures with evidence of high cardiac output (Fick CO 17.1 LPM, Fick CI 7.9 LPM/m2). In a novel diagnostic approach, 5.1 mCi of technetium-99m-labeled macroaggregated albumin was injected into the aorta at the time of left heart catheterization and then whole body planar images were obtained in anterior and posterior projections. The scan revealed evidence of lower extremity arteriovenous shunting with a proportion of 6% (Fig. 1). He was started on lenalidomide and pulse-dose dexamethasone with improvement in diuretic response and resolution of heart failure symptoms. A follow-up echocardiogram showed normalization of right ventricular size and function. He eventually underwent successful allogeneic stem cell transplant during the admission.Although Tc-99m MAA is routinely used in the diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome, this is, to our knowledge, the first report of its use to investigate myeloma-related HOHF in the clinical setting. This technique was previously utilized successfully to experimentally correlate between shunting values and cardiac indices. It may be of use in a wider population of patients with HOHF in whom occult shunting is suspected.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.Bleeding and thrombotic complications continue to plague continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) therapy in patients with end-stage heart failure. Warfarin genotyping information can be incorporated into decision making for initial dosing as recommended by the Food and Drug Administration; however, clinical utility of this data in the CF-LVAD population has not been well studied. Genotypes testing for CYP2C9 and VCORC1 polymorphisms were determined in 90 CF-LVAD patients. Outcomes studied were the association of CYP2C9 (*1, *2, or *3) and VKORC1 (-1639 G>A) gene variants with time-to-target international normalized ratio (INR), total warfarin dose, maintenance warfarin dose. Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device patients carrying a rare variant in the VKORC1 gene had a significantly lower cumulative warfarin dose until target INR achieved (18.9 vs.35.0 mg, p= 0.002), days spent until INR target achieved (4.9 vs.7.0 days, p= 0.021), and discharge warfarin dose (3.2 vs. 5.6 mg, p= 0.001) compared with patients with wild-type genotype. Genotype-guided warfarin dosing may lead to safer anticoagulation and potentially improve outcomes in CF-LVAD patients.

The association of diabetes and insulin resistance (IR) with the cell therapy response in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was evaluated. Outpatients with DCM received granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor for 5 days. CD34+cells were collected by apheresis and injected transendocardially. However, transendocardial CD34+cell therapy appeared ineffective in DCM patients with diabetes. IR was associated with improved CD34+stem cell mobilization and a preserved clinical response to cell therapy. We evaluated the association of diabetes and insulin resistance with the response to cell therapy in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A total of 45 outpatients with DCM received granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor for 5 days. CD34+cells were then collected by apheresis and injected transendocardially. Twelve patients had diabetes mellitus (DM group), 17 had insulin resistance (IR group), and 16 displayed normal glucose metabolism (no‐IR group). After stimulation, we found higher numbers of CD34+cells in the IR group (94 ± 73 × 106cells per liter) than in the no‐IR group (54 ± 35 × 106cells per liter) or DM group (31 ± 20 × 106cells per liter; p= .005). Similarly, apheresis yielded the highest numbers of CD34+cells in the IR group (IR group, 216 ± 110 × 106cells; no‐IR group, 127 ± 82 × 106cells; DM group, 77 ± 83 × 106cells; p= .002). Six months after cell therapy, we found an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction in the IR group (+5.6% ± 6.9%) and the no‐IR group (+4.4% ± 7.2%) but not in the DM group (−0.9% ± 5.4%; p= .035). The N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide levels decreased in the IR and no‐IR groups, but not in the DM group (−606 ± 850 pg/ml; −698 ± 1,105 pg/ml; and +238 ± 963 pg/ml, respectively; p= .034). Transendocardial CD34+cell therapy appears to be ineffective in DCM patients with diabetes. IR was associated with improved CD34+stem cell mobilization and a preserved clinical response to cell therapy. The present study is the first clinical study directly evaluating the effects of altered glucose metabolism on the efficacy of CD34+stem cell therapy in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. The results offer critical insights into the physiology of stem cell mobilization in heart failure and possibly an explanation for the often conflicting results obtained with stem cell therapy for heart failure. These results demonstrate that patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and diabetes do not benefit from autologous CD34+cell therapy. This finding could serve as a useful tool when selecting heart failure patients for future clinical studies in the field of stem cell therapy.

As the population of adults with congenital heart disease continues to grow, so does the number of these patients with heart failure. Ventricular assist devices are underutilized in adults with congenital heart disease due to their complex anatomic arrangements and physiology. Advanced imaging techniques that may increase the utilization of mechanical circulatory support in this population must be explored. Three-dimensional printing offers individualized structural models that would enable pre-surgical planning of cannula and device placement in adults with congenital cardiac disease and heart failure who are candidates for such therapies. We present a review of relevant cardiac anomalies, cases in which such models could be utilized, and some background on the cost and procedure associated with this process.

This study tested whether combined invasive hemodynamic and echocardiographic ramp tests can help optimize patient management.

The study sought to characterize patterns in the HeartWare (HeartWare Inc., Framingham, Massachusetts) ventricular assist device (HVAD) log files associated with successful medical treatment of device thrombosis.

Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome (AVWS) in patients undergoing continuous-flow left ventricular assist device support is due to the loss of von Willebrand factor (vWF) high molecular weight multimers (HMWMs) by shear-mediated mechanisms. We investigated whether reducing speed in vivowould mitigate the shear effect. In outpatients (n = 6) with a HeartMate II, pump speed was decreased to 8,000 rpm for 6 hours. At baseline (9,140 ± 189 rpm), patients had an AVWS as evidenced by low vWF activity:antigen ratios (0.58 ± 0.13, normal >0.7) and reduced HMWMs. After 6 hours, there was no significant change in either the vWF activity:antigen ratio or the HMWMs. Decreasing pump speed does not ameliorate AVWS.

Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) can be broadly categorized into 2 main groups: ventricular and atrial, which often coexist. The former is secondary to left ventricular remodeling usually in the setting of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction or less frequently due to ischemic papillary muscle remodeling. Atrial FMR develops due to atrial and annular dilatation related to atrial fibrillation/flutter or from increased atrial pressures in the setting of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Guideline-directed medical therapy is the first step and prevails as the mainstay in the treatment of FMR. In this review, we address the medical therapeutic options for FMR management and highlight a targeted approach for each FMR category. We further address important clinical and echocardiographic characteristics to aid in determining when medical therapy is expected to have a low yield and an appropriate window for effective interventional approaches exists.

The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for ischemic in hemorrhage cerebrovascular events in patients supported by the HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD).

It has been well established that patient self-testing (PST) of international normalized ratio (INR) using home monitoring devices increases the average therapeutic time and patient satisfaction. Long-term anticoagulation therapy with warfarin is used in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) to minimize the occurrence of thromboembolic events; however, PST devices have never been tested in patients with CF-LVADs. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of the PST device Alere INRatio 2 in patients supported with CF-LVADs. A correlation study was performed in 50 patients with CF-LVAD who were on stable warfarin therapy for a minimum of 3 weeks. Simultaneous INR values were determined from capillary whole blood samples using the Alere PST device and venous blood samples processed in the core laboratory at Columbia University Medical Center. There was a moderate correlation between the venous and the capillary INR values with a correlation coefficient of 0.83. The median difference between the methods was 0.39, with 44 of 50 patients recording higher INRs with Alere. Results remained unchanged after adjusting for use of amiodarone, abnormal hematocrit and liver enzymes, creatinine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Point of care testing with Alere correlates moderately well but consistently overestimates INR when compared with conventional laboratory testing in patients with CF-LVAD.