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Purpose Various options of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) exist for the treatment of cardiogenic shock, however, all forms of tMCS carry a risk of complications. The aim of this study was to compare bleeding complications and thromboembolic events under extracorporeal life support + Impella 2.5/CP (ECMELLA) and isolated Impella 5.0 therapy in the same patient cohort. Material We retrospectively analyzed data of patients who underwent ECMELLA implantation and subsequent Impella 5.0 therapy. Implantation strategy and anticoagulation protocol were comparable in both groups. Results We included 15 patients (mean age 57.2 years; 80% of male patients) who were weaned from ECMELLA undergoing subsequent Impella 5.0 implantation. Mean duration of ECMELLA and Impella 5.0 therapy (10.5 vs. 11.2 days) did not differ significantly (p = .731). The average number of transfused packed red blood cells (PRBC) and thrombocyte concentrates (TC) was significantly decreased during Impella 5.0 treatment (PRBC: 30.3 vs 12.3, p = .001; TC: 5.9 vs 2.2, p = .045). Additionally, the transfusion rates per day were significantly reduced under Impella 5.0 support. Conclusions The need for transfusions is significantly lower in the phase of Impella 5.0 therapy compared to the initial phase on ECMELLA. Therefore, we recommend replacing ECMELLA by an Impella 5.0 device early, if possible.

Purpose Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is an increasingly used treatment option for patients in need of mechanical cardiopulmonary support, while available outcome data is limited. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for 30-day in-hospital mortality. Material and methods We analyzed baseline characteristics and outcomes of 8351 VA-ECMO procedures performed in Germany from 2007 to 2015. Using a multivariable model, we identified the ten most important variables to allow for prediction of 30-day in-hospital mortality. Based on these variables, we created a mortality prediction score (ECMO-ACCEPTS score) to enhance decision making in patients considered for or treated with VA-ECMO support. Results Of 8351 patients (71.7% male) 3567 had prior CPR. Mean age was 62 years in the present cohort. The overall 30-day in-hospital mortality was 61%. The ECMO-ACCEPTS score, derived among randomly selected 4175 patients, included ten independent predictors for in-hospital mortality. Internal validation in the remaining 4176 patients confirmed strong differentiation between low and high risk of 30-day in-hospital mortality (r = 0.97 for correlation of predicted with observed mortality, p Conclusions The ECMO-ACCEPTS score might help clinicians to improve risk prediction among VA-ECMO patients for refractory cardiogenic shock.

Background Neuron-specific-enolase (NSE) is frequently used to predict the neurologic outcome in persistently unconscious patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, its predictive value is unclear in the setting of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO). Aim of this project is to evaluate the predictive value of NSE in ECMO patients. Methods NSE was measured after 24, 48, and 72 h in post-CPR ECMO patients. Neurologic status was evaluated using the best Cerebral Performance Categories Score (CPC) during the hospital stay. Patients who deceased within the first 24 h and patients who were awake during the first 24 h were excluded. ROC curves were calculated to assess the discriminative ability of single NSE measurements. Trajectories of serial NSE values were investigated using latent class mixed models. Results The derivation cohort consisted of 65 patients, 30-day all-cause mortality was 47.7% and a poor neurological outcome with a CPC score of 4–5 was seen 30.7%. NSE measurement after 48 h showed the best discrimination for poor neurological outcome (AUC of 0.87 in the ROC curve; cut-off value of 70 μg/L). Specificity was highest if using serial NSE measurements at all three time points. These results could be validated in an external cohort of 64 patients. Conclusion In post-CPR patients on ECMO, NSE can be used to assess the neurologic outcome. Importantly, specificity was highest if using serial NSE measurements. Further research using prospective datasets is needed to verify these findings.

Objectives: This report relates the authors' ongoing experience with percutaneous left ventricular (LV) unloading by using a transaortic LV assist device in combination with venoarterial ex...

Purpose Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly used in patients with critical cardiopulmonary failure. The association between hospital volume of VA-ECMO procedures and outcomes has not been described. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hospital VA-ECMO procedure volume and outcomes in a large, nationwide registry. Methods By using administrative data from the German Federal Health Monitoring System, we analyzed all VA-ECMO procedures performed in Germany from 2013 to 2016 regarding the association of procedural volumes with outcomes and complications. Results During the study period, 10207 VA-ECMO procedures were performed at 223 hospitals; mean age was 61 years, 43.4 % had prior CPR and 71.2 % were male patients. Acute coronary syndrome was the primary diagnosis for VA-ECMO implantation (n = 6202, 60.8 %). The majority of implantations (n = 5421) was performed at hospitals in the lowest volume category (≤50 implantations per year).There was a significant association between annualized volume of VA-ECMO procedures and 30-day in-hospital mortality for centers with lower vs. higher volume per year. Multivariable Cox regression showed an increased 30-day in-hospital mortality at hospitals with the lowest volume category (Hazard Ratio 1.125 (95 % confidence interval 1.049 - 1.203), p = 0.001). However, more complications were observed at hospitals with higher VA-ECMO volume. Conclusion In this analysis with more than 10000 patients, the majority of implantations was performed at hospitals with the lowest annual volume. Thirty-day in-hospital mortality risk was higher in hospitals with the lowest annual VA-ECMO volume, despite increasing numbers of complications in hospitals with the highest annual VA-ECMO volume.

Background: Autologous cells for cell therapy of ischemic cardiomyopathy often display age- and disease-related functional impairment, whereas an allogenic immunotolerant cell product would allow off-the-shelf application of uncompromised donor cells. We investigated the cardiac regeneration potential of a novel, clinical-grade placenta-derived human stromal cell product (PLX-PAD). Methods: PLX-PAD cells derived from human donor placentas and expanded in a threedimensional bioreactor system were tested for surface marker expression, proangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties in vitro. In BALB/C mice, the left anterior descending artery was ligated and PLX-PAD cells (n ¼ 10) or vehicle (n ¼ 10) were injected in the infarct border zone. Four weeks later, heart function was analyzed by two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. Scar size, microvessel density, extracellular matrix composition, myocyte apoptosis, and PLX-PAD cell retention were studied by histology. Results: In vitro, PLX-PAD cells displayed both proangiogenesis and anti-inflammatory properties, represented by the secretion of both vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-1 that was upregulated by hypoxia, as well as by the capacity to suppress Tcell proliferation and augment IL-10 secretion when co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Compared with control mice, PLX-PAD-treated hearts had better contractile function, smaller infarct size, greater regional left ventricular wall thickness, and less apoptosis after 4 wk. PLX-PAD stimulated both angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in the infarct border zone, and periostin expression was upregulated in PLX-PAD-treated hearts. Conclusions: Clinical-grade PLX-PAD cells exert beneficial effects on ischemic myocardium that are associated with improved contractile function, and may be suitable for further evaluation aiming at clinical pilot trials of cardiac cell therapy.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (va-ECMO) is a common treatment option for patients in need of mechanical cardiopulmonary support despite limited outcome data. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of va-ECMO therapy as well as describe practice and outcome utilizing

Various Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a part of the innate immune system and involved in cardiac immune response after viral infection. Potential endogenous ligands of TLRs and their function in viral myocarditis still remain unclear. In the present study we investigated the role of the alarmins