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The patient was diagnosed with perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD). She underwent VSD closure and muscle bundle resection across right ventricular outflow tract at the age of 3 months. Since then, she had suffered from severe heart failure and complete heart block. Permanent pacemaker generator was implanted in the left hypochondrium. She was depended on continuous catecholamine administration, so transferred to our hospital for further management. On arrival, her body weight was 5686 g (- 2.7 SD). She underwent Excor pediatric left ventricular assist device implantation at the age of 9 months. Because the position of the left ventricular assist device cannula interfered with the pacemaker, herein, the pacemaker pocket was newly created in the left thoracic cavity. An 1 mm in thickness of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet was trimmed and sutured under the anterolateral wall of left thoracic cavity as a pacemaker pocket. Bipolar ventricular lead was sutured on left ventricular apex and basal wall to face each other, mimicking cardiac regeneration therapy. Even though she unfortunately required right diaphragmatic plication for iatrogenic phrenic nerve palsy, her respiratory function was well maintained; therefore, secondary right heart failure was not observed. Her cardiopulmonary function was quite stable until post-operative day 275 when the patient was transferred to another hospital for heart transplantation., (© 2023. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Collaboration between the implantation centers, management centers, and regional core hospitals is a key factor in securing long-term implantable ventricular assist device (VAD) management. In Kyushu, a management system for patients with implantable VADs has been established at the prefectural and regional levels. Presently, six implantable VAD implantation centers and seven management centers exists in the eight prefectures of Kyushu and Okinawa, with at least one specialized VAD centers in each prefecture. This collaborative management system allows patients with VADs to receive seamless treatment based on the same management concept wherever they live. In fact, approximately half of the present outpatients treated at our center reside outside the prefecture and are managed in collaboration with management centers and regional core hospitals. Among our patients, there were no significant differences in survival or rehospitalization-free rates between patients with VADs in and out of the prefecture, suggesting that the place of residence did not affect the outcome. With the increase in the number of patients with VADs and the diversification of patients, patient management has become more complex. Mutual collaboration between the implantation centers, management centers, and regional core hospitals, is essential to improve the quality of VAD management. This review was created based on a translation of the Japanese review written in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs in 2023 (Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 85-88), with some modifications., (© 2024. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Advance care planning (ACP) is essential in managing serious and chronic illnesses to ensure that patients receive care aligned with their personal values, goals, and preferences. This review focuses on integrating ACP in the treatment of patients receiving implantable left ventricular assist devices (VADs). The heart failure palliative care team developed a unique advance directive form and pamphlet to facilitate ACP discussions, emphasizing not only medical treatment preferences but also patients' values and life goals.The study highlights the distinction between bridge to transplantation (BTT) and destination therapy (DT) in VAD patients, with different goals and considerations for ACP. The use of decision aids developed especially for DT candidates as a communication tool helps in sharing patients' wishes and facilitates shared decision-making, particularly in the complex decisions surrounding DT therapy.Challenges in implementing ACP, such as time constraints due to urgent medical conditions, difficulties in patient communication, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, are addressed. The need for a comprehensive healthcare system capable of supporting patients' ACP wishes, especially in the community setting, is also pointed out.Future directions include not only developing materials to ease ACP discussions and ensuring that ACP content is shared among healthcare providers to foster collaborative and detailed planning, but also a call for widespread adoption of ACP in Japan.This is a translation of a paper written in Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs (Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 89-92) with additions and corrections., (© 2024. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

In April 2021, destination therapy (DT) was finally approved in Japan. Since DT does not aim at heart transplantation (HT), our goal is to have a patient safely remain on an implantable ventricular assist device (VAD) for the rest of his/her life. To achieve this goal, similarly to bridge-to-transplant (BTT) patients, the authors believe the following six aspects are even more crucial in DT patients: (1) to appropriately assess risks before implantation, (2) to carefully determine the ability to manage the device by multidisciplinary discussions, (3) to prevent complications by improving the quality of care, (4) to expand the number of facilities that can take care of DT patients by improving collaboration among the facilities, (5) to reduce the burden of caregivers by utilizing social resources, and (6) to establish a home palliative care system based on advance care planning. In addition, for elderly DT patients to live happy and long lives, it is essential to help them to find a purpose of life and to keep activities of daily living, such as employment, schooling, and participation in social activities, just like the general elderly population. Our goals are not only to do our best for the patients just in front of us, but also to establish a system to follow up our DT cohort, same as BTT one, by all-Japan manner. In the present review, we discuss the current state of DT in Japan and what we need to focus on to maintain or improve its long-term performance., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Implantable ventricular assist device (VAD) has enabled patients with severe heart failure to be discharged from the hospital and to continue their care at home. The presence of caregivers is essential to maintain home care of patients with VAD. The caregivers are mainly the family members who live with the patient with VAD. The caregivers need to be trained (1) VAD device management, (2) disinfection of driveline skin punctures, (3) medication management, and (4) responding to sudden changes. The caregivers' lifestyle is also forced to change. In this article, we discuss the role of caregivers in the VAD era, where long-term support beyond 5 years is now possible. This review was created based on a translation of the Japanese review written in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs in 2023 (Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 81-84), with some modifications., (© 2024. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Heart transplantation is considered to be the best treatment for severe heart failure refractory to medical therapy, improving patients' survival and quality of life (QOL). However, the number of donors is smaller than the number of registered applicants for heart transplantation, which increases every year, and the waiting period for heart transplantation has been extended to more than 1700 days by 2022. Since 2011, reimbursement for the implantable left ventricular assist device (iLVAD) was established. The numbers of the iLVAD patients have been increasing year by year. Patients are managed at home with an iLVAD and can live with their families and even return to work, depending on the situation. On the other hand, self-management at home, including caregivers, is important for a safe life. Home management beyond 5 years is becoming more common due to long waiting time for transplant. This article outlines the important aspects of patient management for long-term support. This review was created based on a translation of the Japanese review written in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs in 2023 (Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 62-66), with some modifications., (© 2024. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Since 2011, implantable ventricular assist devices have been a standard treatment for severe heart failure alongside heart transplantation in Japan. However, the limited availability of donors has led to a prolonged wait for transplants, now averaging 1719 days, intensifying the issue of aortic insufficiency in patients with continuous flow ventricular assist devices. These devices limit the opening of the aortic valve, leading to sustained closure and increased shear stress, which accelerates valve degradation. Risk factors for aortic insufficiency include having a smaller body surface area, being of advanced age, and the presence of mild aortic insufficiency prior to device implantation. In patients presenting with mild or moderate aortic regurgitation at the time of ventricular assist device implantation, interventions such as aortic valve repair or bioprosthetic valve replacement are performed with the aim of halting its progression. The choice of surgical procedure should be tailored to each patient's individual condition. The management of de novo aortic insufficiency in patients with continuous flow ventricular assist devices remains challenging, with no clear consensus on when to intervene. Interventions for significant aortic insufficiency typically consider the patient's symptoms and aortic insufficiency severity. De novo aortic insufficiency progression in continuous flow ventricular assist devices patients necessitates careful monitoring and intervention based on individual patient assessments and valve condition. This review was created based on a translation of the Japanese review written in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs in 2023 (Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 77-80), with some modifications., (© 2024. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

We sought to evaluate the potential clinical role of 4D-flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived energetics and flow parameters in a cohort of patients' post-Fontan palliation. In patients with Fontan circulation who underwent 4D-Flow CMR, streamlines distribution was evaluated, as well a 4D-flow CMR-derived energetics parameters as kinetic energy (KE) and energy loss (EL) normalized by volume. EL/KE index as a marker of flow efficiency was also calculated. Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was also performed in a subgroup of patients. The population study included 55 patients (mean age 22 ± 11 years). The analysis of the streamlines revealed a preferential distribution of the right superior vena cava flow for the right pulmonary artery (62.5 ± 35.4%) and a mild preferential flow for the left pulmonary artery (52.3 ± 40.6%) of the inferior vena cave-pulmonary arteries (IVC-PA) conduit. Patients with heart failure (HF) presented lower IVC/PA-conduit flow (0.75 ± 0.5 vs 1.3 ± 0.5 l/min/m 2 , p = 0.004) and a higher mean flow-jet angle of the IVC-PA conduit (39.2 ± 22.8 vs 15.2 ± 8.9, p < 0.001) than the remaining patients. EL/KE index correlates inversely with VO 2 /kg/min: R: - 0.45, p = 0.01 peak, minute ventilation (VE) R: - 0.466, p < 0.01, maximal voluntary ventilation: R:0.44, p = 0.001 and positively with the physiological dead space to the tidal volume ratio (VD/VT) peak: R: 0.58, p < 0.01. From our data, lower blood flow in IVC/PA conduit and eccentric flow was associated with HF whereas higher EL/KE index was associated with reduced functional capacity and impaired lung function. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results and to further improve the prognostic role of the 4D-Flow CMR in this challenging population., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Patient-tailored silicone plug for HeartMate 3™ left ventricular assist device explantation in two successive males proceeded successfully. Given medical therapeutic advancements, FDA-approved plug systems designed by LVAD manufacturers themselves will be necessary for the near future to provide a safe and simple device explantation alternative that fulfills all regulatory standards., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

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. Outflow graft complications have a direct impact on LVAD flow rate and acutely impair the clinical condition of patients. Treatment modalities include surgical approach, endovascular approach, and medical approach. In this case report, we aim to share a 57-year-old male patient, who had outflow graft stenosis near the anastomosis line between ascending aorta and the left ventricular assist device outflow graft, and the endovascular treatment., (© 2023. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Guidelines advocate for integrating palliative care into the management of heart failure (HF) and of children with life-limiting disease. The potential impact of palliative care integration into pediatric HF on patient-centered outcomes is poorly understood. The present study sought to assess the association of programmatic implementation of palliative care into the heart transplant evaluation process with hospital-free days (HFD) and end of life (EOL) treatment choices. The study included patients less than 19 years of age who underwent a heart transplant evaluation between February 2012 and April 2020 at a single center. Patients evaluated in the programmatic palliative care (PPC) era (January 2016-April 2020) were compared to patients evaluated in the pre-PPC era (February 2012-December 2015). The study included 188 patients, with 91 (48%) in the PPC era and 97 (52%) in the pre-PCC era. Children < 1 year of age at the time of the evaluation represented 32% of the cohort. 52% of patients had single ventricle physiology. PPC was not significantly associated with increased HFD (IRR 0.94 [95% CI 0.79-1.2]). PPC was however associated with intensity of EOL care with decreased mechanical ventilation (OR 0.12 [95% CI 0.02-0.789], p = 0.03) and decreased use of ionotropic support (OR 0.13 [95% CI 0.02-0.85], p =0.03). PPC in pediatric heart transplant evaluations may be associated with less invasive interventions at EOL., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

A 47-year-old woman with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent HeartMate II (HM2) implantation as a bridge-to-transplantation. Her postoperative course was good. However, 2.5 years after surgery, the outflow graft was found to be twisted and the graft and pump was exchanged. While HeartMate 3(HM3) twisting of the outflow graft is well documented, such malfunctions in HM2 are almost unknown. Although HM2 has since been discontinued, there are a significant number of patients using HM2 who are awaiting heart transplants or destination therapy. We caution that, even with HM2, the possibility of late-phase twisting requires vigilance., (© 2023. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Left ventricular assist devices improve prognosis and quality of life, but exercise capacity remains limited in most patients after device implantation. Left ventricular assist device optimization through right heart catheterization reduces device-related complications. However, hemodynamic parameters associated with exercise capacity under optimized conditions. The aim of this study was to elucidate the predictors of exercise capacity from hemodynamic parameters at rest after left ventricular assist device optimization. We retrospectively reviewed 24 patients who underwent a ramp test with right heart catheterization, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing more than 6 months after left ventricular assist device implantation. Pump speed was optimized to a lower setting that achieved right atrial pressure < 12 mmHg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure < 18 mmHg, and cardiac index > 2.2 L/min/m 2 , then exercise capacity was assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. After left ventricular assist device optimization, the mean right atrial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index, and peak oxygen consumption were 7 ± 5 mmHg, 10 ± 7 mmHg, 2.7 ± 0.5 L/min/m 2 , and 13.2 ± 3.0 mL/min/kg, respectively. Pulse pressure, stroke volume, right atrial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were significantly associated with peak oxygen consumption. Multivariate linear regression analysis of factors predicting peak oxygen consumption revealed that pulse pressure, right atrial pressure, and aortic insufficiency remained independent predictors (β = 0.401, p = 0.007; β = - 0.558, p < 0.001; β = - 0.369, p = 0.010, respectively). Our findings suggests that cardiac reserve, volume status, right ventricular function, and aortic insufficiency predict exercise capacity in patients with a left ventricular assist device., (© 2023. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) receive anticoagulation to decrease the risk of thrombosis. Various circumstances require discontinuing anticoagulation in LVAD patients, but the risks entailed are not well defined. In a retrospective review of LVAD implantation procedures, we examined the effect of time off anticoagulation on thrombosis and mortality rates after implantation. An international normalized ratio ≤ 1.5 was used to screen for patients taken off anticoagulation. Patients were divided into three groups by the cumulative number of days off anticoagulation: no discontinuation, short-term discontinuation (< 30 days), and long-term discontinuation (≥ 30 days). Rates of ischemic stroke, pump thrombosis, and mortality were compared among groups. Of 245 patients who underwent LVAD implantation during the study, 70 (28.6%) were off anticoagulation during follow-up: 37 (15.1%) had short-term discontinuation (median, 11 days), and 33 (13.5%) had long-term discontinuation (median, 124 days). Patients with long-term discontinuation had a higher rate of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio 8.5, p = 0.001) and death (adjusted hazard ratio 3.9, p = 0.001). The three groups did not differ in pump thrombosis rate. We conclude that after LVAD implantation, discontinuing anticoagulation for ≥ 30 days is independently associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke and death., (© 2022. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Implantation of continuous-flow left ventricular assist device in a narrow lumen is technically challenging to secure an optimal support. We experienced a patient with the transposition of the great arteries after the Senning procedure who was initially implanted with Jarvik 2000®. She presented with worsening heart failure symptoms 2 years after implanting Jarvik 2000®. We assumed that the inflow cannula was stuck in the highly developed trabeculae on the interventricular septum, which disturbed the VAD to maintain an expected support. After converting to the EVAHEART® 2, we successfully obtained an adequate inflow. We consider that the tipless cannula of EVAHEART® 2 is the most suitable when there is no sufficient room to place a conventional inflow cannula in the systemic ventricle., (© 2023. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Fulminant myocarditis is a fatal development from profound biventricular heart failure and often requires both right- and left-ventricular assistance to maintain hemodynamics, even at the risk of increased mortality and morbidity. Here, we present a 42-year-old female with profound biventricular failure due to fulminant myocarditis, resolved by an isolated durable left-ventricular assist device support under a fenestrated, Fontan-like circulation and managed low-pulmonary vascular resistance., (© 2022. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Oscillatory blood pressure (OBP) with a slow cuff-deflation system has been proposed as noninvasive measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). However, the challenge is that the measurement is not obtainable in certain patients. We hypothesized that the combined use of color Doppler imaging during OBP measurement (CDBP) could derive MAP accurately. We conducted a prospective observational study in critically ill patients (30 patients with continuous-flow LVADs and 30 control patients without LVADs). Triplicate OBP and CDBP measurements were performed and invasive blood pressure (IBP) was recorded. The overall success rate of OBP was 63.3% in the LVAD group and 98.9% in the control group. The CDBP was successfully obtained in 100% of all study patients. The CDBP in the LVAD group was closest to the MAP of measured IBP, while that in the control group was closest to the systolic IBP. The mean absolute differences in OBP and CDBP from the closest IBP were similar in both the control and LVAD groups. In nonpulsatile LVAD patients with a pulse pressure IBP < 10 mmHg, the success rate of OBP measurement was only 10.0%, and CDBP showed significantly reduced error in MAP measurement (mean absolute difference: OBP 23.2 ± 8.7 vs CDBP 5.2 ± 3.6 mmHg, p < 0.001). The validity of OBP measurement with a slow cuff-deflation system limited particularly in nonpulsatile LVAD patients. The concurrent use of color Doppler imaging is encouraged for more accurate measurement of MAP in patients with continuous-flow LVADs., (© 2022. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for arrhythmogenic right ventricular (RV) cardiomyopathy is challenging associated with small LV cavity, laterally dislocated LV apex, thin and fragile RV free wall. A 43-year-old male with more than 10 years of medical treatment developed congestive heart failure related to biventricular failure. Durable LVAD was indicated to prevent further deterioration of the RV function, which would be exacerbated by progression of LV dysfunction. To simulate surgery, we printed-out a 3D heart model based on enhanced CT scanning study to identify the optimal coring position in the LV apex, by which the inflow directs the mitral valve. We then found that the mini-cuff of the HeartMate3 should be fixed in the paper-thin RV free wall by the usual cuff-sewing method. In the surgery, after the coring as planned, 5 pairs of interrupted sutures on the medial side were passed from the luminal side of the LV and then to the mini-cuff, and the lateral side of the mini-cuff was fixed with a continuous sutures, not to sew into the RV wall. The surgery was completed without complications with a good hemodynamics. The 3D heart model facilitated this unique method, indicating a usefulness of printed-out heart model for cases with unusual cardiac anatomy, which needs implantation of durable LVAD., (© 2022. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

The optimal surgical approach in patients with pectus excavatum (PEx) who need cardiac surgery remains uncertain. The challenge is even greater, if it is already foreseeable that the patient will be needed further procedure in the next future. We describe a novel sternotomy-sparing approach for minimal-invasive biventricular assist device (BiVAD) implantation in a patient with an acute heart failure (HF) due to dilated cardiomyopathy and severe PEx. Moreover, alternative approaches for ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation and timing of the repair of PEx will be discussed., (© 2022. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Despite left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy becoming established for end-stage heart failure (HF), complications remain. Thromboembolic complications are rare with the newest iteration of LVADs. We managed a case of a continuous-flow LVAD-related thromboembolic event that presented as an acute myocardial infarction. A 64-year-old male who underwent Heartmate III ® LVAD implantation had crushing substernal chest pain and ventricular tachycardia with acute anterolateral myocardial infarction on electrocardiogram on post-operative day 9. Echocardiography showed closed aortic valve and mild aortic regurgitation, but CT angiography showed thrombus within the left coronary cusp despite full anticoagulation. Continuous suction of blood from the left ventricle despite pulsatile flow into the ascending aorta resulted in a minimally opening aortic valve and stagnation of blood leading to thrombosis on the coronary cusp. Apart from post-operative ventricular tachycardia and right ventricular failure, he had adequate body size (body surface area 2.13 m 2 ) and no post-operative or coagulopathy which could predispose him to thrombosis. Coronary angiography revealed stable severe three-vessel disease and thrombus in left main and proximal circumflex artery, and he had aspiration thrombectomy, and international normalized ratio target was increased to 3-3.5 with aspirin 325 mg daily. He survived to discharge but died 60 days after LVAD implant with multiple low flow alarms, and cardiac arrest. We review the literature and propose a management algorithm for patients with impaired AV opening and aortic root thrombosis., (© 2022. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Thrombus formation is a troublesome and sometimes lethal complication occurring in patients with severe heart failure and supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Appropriate treatment for pump thrombosis especially in emergency cases with severe pump failure is difficult to choose. Herein, we present important findings of a case of unexpected LVAD pump thrombosis that rapidly developed into serious pump failure and circulatory arrest due to total obstruction of the LVAD inflow tract by a huge thrombus., (© 2022. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

The INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic bioprosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Irvine, USA) was fixed in novel tissue preservation technology to ensure long-term durability. Hemodynamic performance after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS) has not been published in the Japanese cohort. Twenty-nine patients underwent AVR with INSPIRIS RESILIA bioprosthesis for severe AS between November 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. The mean age was 75.1 ± 4.5 years with 19 female patients. Body surface area was 1.58 ± 0.19 m 2 and New York Heart Association functional class was 2.2 ± 0.5. Hemodynamic performance was assessed using follow-up transthoracic echocardiographic data collected at 3-6 months, 1 year and 2 years. The mean follow-up time was 19.2 ± 7.2 months, with a 100% follow-up rate. One patient died of postoperative heart failure. The preoperative mean and peak transvalvular pressure gradients (PGs) were 51.9 ± 18.4 mmHg and 89.3 ± 34.9 mmHg, respectively, and effective orifice area 0.72 ± 0.26 cm 2 . They improved at 10.2 ± 3.5 mmHg (p < 0.0001), 19.3 ± 6.6 mmHg (p < 0.0001) and 1.73 ± 0.47cm 2 (p < 0.0001) at discharge. The mean transvalvular PG at 3-6 months (n = 24), 1 year (n = 25) and 2 years (n = 15) was 11.2 ± 3.8 mmHg (p < 0.0001), 11.1 ± 3.2 mmHg (p < 0.0001) and 11.2 ± 3.3 mmHg (p < 0.0001), respectively. Left ventricular mass index decreased from 123.0 ± 35.0 g/m 2 before surgery to 113.4 ± 35.0 g/m 2 (p = 0.0133) at discharge. It has dropped to 88.0 ± 25.0 g/m 2 (p = 0.0007) at 2 years. Constrictive pericarditis caused heart failure in one patient. INSPIRIS RESILIA bioprosthesis showed improved hemodynamic performance in the early postoperative phase. There were fewer valve-related events observed., (© 2022. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Negative impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch on long-term survival after valve replacement has been reported. However, the effect of prosthesis-patient mismatch after bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement has not yet been well examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of prosthesis-patient mismatch on late outcomes after bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement for mitral regurgitation. A total of 181 patients underwent bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement between April 2008 and December 2016. After excluding patients with mitral stenosis and those with incomplete data, 128 patients were included in the study. Postoperative transthoracic echocardiography was performed before discharge for all patients and the effective orifice area of bioprosthetic mitral valve was calculated using the formula: 220/pressure half-time, and the effective orifice area index was calculated by the formula: effective orifice area/body surface area. Prosthesis-patient mismatch was defined as a postoperative effective orifice area index ≤ 1.2 cm 2 /m 2 . The characteristics and outcomes were compared between the groups. There were 34 patients (26.6%) with prosthesis-patient mismatch and 94 patients (73.4%) without prosthesis-patient mismatch. There were no significant differences in the in-hospital mortality and morbidities. Multivariable analysis showed that prosthesis-patient mismatch was an independent predictor of late mortality (hazard ratio 3.38; 95% confidence interval 1.69-6.75; p = 0.001) and death from heart failure (hazard ratio 31.03, 95% confidence interval 4.49-214.40, p < 0.001). Prosthesis-patient mismatch at discharge after mitral valve replacement for mitral regurgitation was associated with long-term mortality and death from heart failure., (© 2021. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Women with implantable left-ventricular assist devices (LVADs) experience gynecological bleeding (GYN-bleeding). However, a few studies have investigated female-specific problems. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the risk factors for adverse GYN-bleeding after LVAD implantation. We retrospectively analyzed 59 women (mean age: 41 ± 15 years) with long-term implantable LVAD support (≥ 6 months) at our institution between 2005 and 2018. The history of GYN-bleeding before implantation was defined as abnormal utero-ovarian bleeding, excessive menstruation, uterine fibroids, and endometrial lesions. GYN-bleeding after implantation was defined as a requirement of emergency outpatient visits and/or hospitalization, blood transfusions, hormonal therapy, and/or surgery. Additionally, risk factors for GYN-bleeding were identified using the Cox regression model. Twenty-four GYN-bleeding cases were seen in 15 patients (two times: five patients, three times: two patients, 0.18 events per patient-year). The 1- and 2-year GYN-bleeding-free rates were 84% and 73%, respectively. Twelve patients (17 events) required RBC ≥ 4 units, and five patients (7 events) required FFP ≥ 4 units. Seven patients required pseudomenopausal treatment after blood transfusion, and four patients required surgical treatment. Fifteen patients with GYN-bleeding after implantation were significantly younger than the remaining 44 patients without GYN-bleeding (34 ± 12 years vs. 43 ± 16 years, P = 0.02). Multivariable risk analysis showed a history of GYN-bleeding before implantation was a significant risk factor (hazard ratio 3.7 [1.2-10.6], P = 0.004). Patients with a history of GYN-bleeding before LVAD implantation have a high risk of developing GYN-bleeding after implantation. We should identify the high-risk population and prepare for the management of GYN-bleeding., (© 2021. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Coronavirus disease 2019 affected millions of people and caused pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and increased mortality worldwide. Data from multicenter studies showed that concomitant chronic diseases are associated with severe coronavirus disease. Patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support may also be vulnerable to the disease. Some symptoms of COVID-19 infection like dyspnea and fatigue can overlap with heart failure or LVAD dysfunction. Careful evaluation should be made to diagnose and treat these patients. In these two cases with COVID-19, here we presented the first two patients supported with LVAD in Turkey., (© 2021. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Children with advanced heart failure may require ventricular assist devices (VAD) while awaiting heart transplantation. Currently, no data exist regarding the safety of exercise rehabilitation (ER) in children on VAD support. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of ER in children on VAD support awaiting heart transplantation. Eligible patients underwent VAD placement between 1998 and 2019; both inpatient and outpatient participants were included. After VAD implantation and when ambulatory, patients were enrolled in ER. Exercise sessions were scheduled three times a week and consisted of aerobic and musculoskeletal conditioning. A total of 29 patients (59% male, mean age 14 ± 3.2 years) were included with a median VAD duration of 120 ± 109 days. Cardiac diagnoses included cardiomyopathy (81%) and congenital heart disease (19%). VAD type included pulsatile (59%) and continuous-flow devices (41%). Eight hundred and sixty-four (85%) ER sessions were successfully completed and began at a mean of 49 days (range 19-108) after VAD implant. No adverse events, including episodes of hypotension, significant complex arrhythmia, or VAD malfunction occurred during exercise testing or ER, and no sessions were discontinued prematurely. Pediatric patients on VAD support can safely participate in ER with relatively high compliance, and sessions can be implemented early after VAD implantation. Given the safety profile, ER in pediatric VAD recipients, which is a modifiable pre-transplant risk factor that may improve functional capacity, warrants further study as a potential modality to improve post-transplant outcomes., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used as destination therapy or as a bridge to future cardiac transplant in patients with end-stage heart failure. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be used to bridge patients in cardiogenic shock or with decompensated heart failure to durable mechanical circulatory support. We assessed outcomes in patients in critical cardiogenic shock (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support [INTERMACS] profile 1) who underwent implantation of a continuous-flow (CF)-LVAD, with or without preoperative ECMO bridging. For this retrospective study, we selected INTERMACS profile 1 patients who underwent CF-LVAD implantation at our institution between Sep 1, 2004 and Nov 30, 2018. Of 768 patients identified, 133 (17.3%) were INTERMACS profile 1; 26 (19.5%) received preoperative ECMO support, and 107 (80.5%) did not. Postimplantation outcomes were compared between the ECMO and no-ECMO groups. No significant differences were found in 30-day mortality (15.4 vs. 15.9%, P = 0.95) or survival at 1 year (53.8 vs. 60.9%, P = 0.51). Three patients who received ECMO before CF-LVAD implantation subsequently underwent cardiac transplant. In the ECMO group, the lactate level 1 day after ECMO initiation was lower in survivors than nonsurvivors (2.7 ± 2.2 vs. 7.4 ± 4.2 mmol/L, P = 0.02; area under the curve = 0.85, P = 0.01) after CF-LVAD implantation. Bridging with ECMO to CF-LVAD implantation in carefully selected INTERMACS profile 1 patients (those who are at the highest risk for critical cardiogenic shock and for whom palliation may be the only other option) produced acceptable postoperative outcomes.Field of research: Artificial lung/ECMO., (© 2021. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Mechanical circulatory supports with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are nowadays an established treatment in end-stage heart failure for those patients who are waiting for an organ donation or are unsuitable for transplantation. The duration of LVAD support is variable, depending on the device, the intention to treat and the issues occurring during treatment, which can change the purpose treatment or accelerate the transplantation. Moreover, length of reported supports in the literature is heterogenous. In here, we present the clinical and surgical case of the longest LVAD support reported in the literature, as a bridge to transplantation, with axial pump Jarvik 2000 (Jarvik Heart, Inc, New York, NY)., (© 2021. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Few studies have examined the efficacy and safety of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent AF ablation. We explored the feasibility of additional cardiac rehabilitation after AF ablation in patients with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Fifty-four patients with heart failure (HF) and a reduced LVEF (HFrEF) (LVEF < 50%; 67.1 ± 11.6 years; 43 men) who underwent initial AF ablation procedures were included. Fourteen (25.9%) patients underwent cardiac rehabilitation (rehabilitation-group) and the remaining 40 (74.1%) did not (non-rehabilitation-group) after the procedure. The rehabilitation-group patients were relatively older, more likely female (p = 0.024), and had more likely a history of an HF hospitalization (p < 0.01) and cardiac device implantation (p = 0.041). The baseline LVEF was significantly lower (p = 0.043) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (p < 0.01) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p < 0.01) values were significantly higher in the rehabilitation-group. The 6-min walk distance significantly improved after 21.4 ± 11.5 days of cardiac rehabilitation during hospitalization (226.1 ± 155.9 vs. 398.1 ± 77.5 m, p = 0.016) without any adverse events. During an 18.9 ± 6.3 month follow-up period, the freedom from AF recurrence (p = 0.52) and re-hospitalizations due to HF (p = 0.63) were similar between the 2 groups. No death or strokes were observed. During the follow-up period, the LVEF significantly improved similarly in both groups, and the change in the BNP and CRP values significantly decreased in the rehabilitation-group. Despite the rehabilitation-group patients having a more severe HF status, the clinical outcomes and AF freedom were similar between the 2 groups, suggesting the favorable impact of cardiac rehabilitation after AF ablation in HFrEF patients., (© 2021. Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature.)

Infection is a major complication in patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Once a driveline exit-site infection (DLI) reaches the LVAD component, LVAD exchange may become necessary for radical treatment, although clinical results are not satisfactory. In this report, we describe two cases of LVAD infection successfully treated with pump exchange. During LVAD support, the DLI extended into the pump pocket and the outflow graft despite aggressive surgical debridement and negative pressure wound therapy. These two patients required LVAD exchange for radical treatment, because the estimated waiting period for heart transplantation was at least more than 1 year. The LVAD exchange was performed through median re-sternotomy, and the infected HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD) was completely removed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Then, a new LVAD covered with the omentum flap was implanted. These two patients were successfully bridged to heart transplantation after 10 months and 2 years of support without recurrence of infection. These two cases may suggest that the driveline of the HVAD needs to be kept away from the outflow graft to prevent refractory outflow graft infection., (© 2021. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantations have traditionally been approached through a full median sternotomy (FS). Recently, a minimally invasive left thoracotomy (LT) approach has been popularized. This study sought to compare the outcomes of FS and LT patients post-primary LVAD implantation and post-subsequent heart transplant (HT). This was a single-center retrospective study. 83 patients who underwent primary centrifugal durable LVAD implantation from January 2014 to June 2018 were included (FS, n = 41; LT, n = 42). 41 patients had a subsequent HT (FS, n = 19; LT, n = 22). Pre-operative patient demographics, intraoperative variables, post-operative 1-year survival, length of hospital stay, complications, and outcomes for LVAD implantation and following HT were analyzed. Intraoperative data showed that the LT group had a 23.4% longer mean LVAD implant surgical time (p < 0.01). One-year post-LVAD survival was similar between the two groups (p = 0.05). Complication rates, with the exception of the rate of hemorrhagic stroke (p = 0.04) post-LVAD implant were similar. One-year survival post-HT was similar between groups (p = 0.35). Complication rates and mean length of hospital stay were also similar (p = 1.0) post-HT. Our study demonstrated that LT approach does not negatively affect post-LVAD implantation or post-HT outcomes. Further, larger studies may determine more detailed effects of LT approach., (© 2021. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Allograft failure secondary to rejection commonly requires a multimodal treatment, ultimately including mechanical circulatory support. A few case reports have demonstrated the use of Impella-devices due to its assumed favorable safety profile in this fragile cohort. However, this treatment option does not play a role in choice of anti-rejective therapy in clinical routine up to date. We summarize our institutional experiences and literature mini-review on Impella-based treatment strategies in allograft rejection after heart transplantation. In all seven cases, three from our institution and four reported in the literature, Impella-based therapies led to hemodynamic stabilization in allograft failure secondary to rejection. Adverse events included hemolysis, non-fatal bleeding and in one patient a relevant aortic valve insufficiency occurred. All patients showed an improvement of allograft function. Two patients died in context of severe immunosuppression or late secondary organ failure. Based on the limited available data, we propose that Impella-mediated mechanical unloading represents a valuable option for hemodynamic stabilization in severe allograft failure due to rejection, enabling an initiation of causal therapy and thereby potentially representing an opportunity to prevent mortality. Furthermore, we hypothesize it might add to the traditional therapeutic approaches by facilitating recovery by decompressing the myocardium in allograft rejection., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The HeartMate 3 [HM3 (Abbott, Abbott Park, Illinois)] is a left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) with excellent clinical results. Outflow graft occlusion as a complication secondary to outflow graft twisting was reported to occur in 1.6% within the MOMENTUM 3 trial. The anti-twist metal clip or modified bend relief is made to prevent this complication currently, however, there remain large numbers of early implanted HM3 which may develop this complication. There are limited reports illustrating diagnosis, surgical repair, and post-repair hemodynamic changes of these complications. Thus, we present a case of successful diagnosis and surgical repair of an outflow graft twist. Simple procedure through thoracotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass provides significant immediate hemodynamic improvement., (© 2020. The Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

Owing to shortage of donor hearts, the ventricular assist device is used as a bridging therapy to heart transplantation. However, thrombus formation is a critical complication during ventricular assist device circulatory support that might result in ischemic infarction of end organs. Here, we report a patient diagnosed with decompensated dilated cardiomyopathy and cardiogenic shock who underwent emergent extracorporeal life support, and subsequent temporary bilateral ventricular assistance with the CentriMag device (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA). Daily transthoracic echocardiography did not detect any thrombus formation, and no stroke event occurred during biventricular support. During eventual orthotopic heart transplantation, transesophageal echocardiography detected a huge thrombus in the left ventricle. We removed the biventricular assist device, excised the recipient heart, cleaned up the thrombus, and then implanted the donor heart successfully. No stroke or transient neurological deficit was noted during or after the transplantation. The patient was discharged 14 days after transplantation. No major adverse cardiovascular event was noted during 2 years of outpatient follow-up.

We describe the clinical course and treatment of a 53-year-old female, with small chest dimensions, referred to our institution for a primary cardiogenic shock. The patient underwent an on-pump left ventricular assist-device (VAD) implantation with the aid of immediate post-operative paracorporeal right-VAD assistance for an acute right ventricular failure. After two unsuccessful weaning attempts, she underwent extrapericardial HM 3 RVAD implantation.

A survey conducted by Abiomed, Inc. revealed that 10 of 60 patients who received ventricular assistance via the AB5000 ventricular assist device (VAD) experienced hemolysis. The present study was conducted to investigate which factors influence hemolysis under pulsatile-flow VADs such as the AB5000. We compared the specificity of the AB5000 and its driving console with those of the NIPRO-VAD and VCT50χ under severe heart failure conditions using a mock circulatory system with a glycerol water solution. We used the mock circuit with bovine blood to confirm which pump conditions were most likely to cause hemolysis. In addition, we measured the shear velocity using particle image velocimetry by analyzing the seeding particle motion for both the AB5000 and NIPRO-VAD under the same conditions as those indicated in the initial experiment. Finally, we analyzed the correlation between negative pressure, exposure time, and hemolysis by continuously exposing fixed vacuum pressures for fixed times in a sealed device injected with bovine blood. Applying higher vacuum pressure to the AB5000 pump yielded a larger minimum inlet pressure and a longer exposure time when the negative pressure was under - 10 mmHg. The plasma-free hemoglobin increased as more negative pressure was driven into the AB5000 pump. Moreover, the negative pressure interacted with the exposure time, inducing hemolysis. This study revealed that negative pressure and exposure time were both associated with hemolysis.

A 45-year-old woman with repaired complex congenital heart disease, who underwent placement of Jarvik 2000, a ventricular assist device (VAD) for 4 years, experienced abdominal pain due to outflow graft compression caused by seroma formation between the outflow graft and ringed Gore-Tex graft. We exchanged the pump of Jarvik 2000 and punched several small holes in the new ringed Gore-Tex graft. Seroma formation between the two grafts should be considered as a cause of outflow graft obstruction in patients with the long-term support of VAD, and additional surgical interventions to the ringed Gore-Tex graft may prevent this complication.

Pure restrictive cardiomyopathy is a strong risk factor for poor outcomes in children with cardiomyopathy on ventricular assist devices. Owing to concomitant right heart failure, children with end-staged restrictive cardiomyopathy who are supported with a ventricular assist device often require a biventricular assist device, which is another risk factor for waitlist mortality in heart transplantation candidates. Herein, we report the case of a 3-year-old boy with pure restrictive cardiomyopathy who successfully underwent heart transplantation after 12 months of support with staged biventricular assist devices. Owing to the progression of diastolic dysfunction, the left ventricular assist device could not provide adequate circulation support. Despite the provision of biventricular assist device support, the patient required a complex management strategy that involved balancing the left and right ventricular assist device supports. We were able to stabilize the patient by careful synchronization of the supports and proceeded to heart transplantation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Registration No.: Institutional Review Board of Osaka University Hospital, approval no. 16105.

Aortic insufficiency (AI) is known to associate with a persistently closed aortic valve during continuous-flow ventricular assist device support. Some devices carry an intermittent low-speed (ILS) function, which facilitates aortic valve opening, but whether this function prevents AI is unknown. In this study, the Jarvik 2000 device, which is programmed to reduce the pump speed each minute for 8 s, was chosen to examine this potential effect. Prospectively collected data of 85 heart transplant-eligible Jarvik 2000 recipients who met the study criteria (no pre-existing AI and aortic valve surgery) were retrospectively analyzed for the incidence, correlating factors, and clinical outcomes of de novo AI. All data were provided by the Japanese Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support. De novo AI occurred in 58 patients, 23 of whom developed at least moderate AI during a median support duration of 23.5 months. Freedom from moderate or greater AI was 84.4%, 66.1% and 60.2% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that progressive AI was correlated with decreased pulse pressure after implantation (hazard ratio 1.060, 95% confidence interval 1.001-1.127, p = 0.045). No correlation was found for mortality or other adverse events, including stroke, bleeding, infection, pump failure, hemolysis, and readmission. The benefit of the Jarvik 2000's current ILS mode against AI appears to be minimal. However, in this limited cohort where all recipients underwent implantation as a bridge to transplantation, the impact of de novo progressive AI on other clinical adversities was also minimal.

Increased circulating catecholamines are associated with worse exercise performance in adult heart failure patients. Patients with Fontan physiology have increased circulating catecholamines and theoretically could benefit from beta blockade. We hypothesized that carvedilol would improve exercise performance in Fontan patients. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of carvedilol was performed. Single ventricle patients between the ages of 10 and 35 years with a previous Fontan operation who were able to complete a maximal exercise test (respiratory exchange ratio > 1.0) were included. Two 12-week treatment arms were separated by a 6-week washout period. Exercise testing was performed at beginning and end of each treatment arm. Primary endpoint was improvement in peak oxygen consumption/kg (pVO 2 ) from baseline. Of the 26 subjects enrolled, 23 completed the study. Four subjects did not reach goal maximum carvedilol dose, vs. 1 for placebo (p = 0.14). The mean change in pVO 2 between treatments was not different (carvedilol = - 2.1 mL/kg/min v. placebo = - 1.42, p = 0.28). Carvedilol therapy decreased peak heart rate by 4.2 ± 20.2 bpm, (p < 0.01) leading to an increase in peak oxygen pulse (p < 0.01). Serum N-terminal-proBNP increased with carvedilol therapy (mean change of + 23.77 pg/mL) compared to placebo (mean change of - 5.37 pg/mL, p = 0.03). There were no serious adverse events related to study drug. Carvedilol was not associated with improved exercise performance and was associated with mildly increased N-terminal-proBNP. This study does not support the routine administration of carvedilol to healthy Fontan patients.Clinical Trials Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02946892. Registered October 27, 2016. Retrospectively Registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02946892.

The driveline's durability is crucial for optimal long-term support with a left-ventricular assist device (LVAD). The incidence of percutaneous driveline fracture after HeartMate II LVAD implantation is low. For the first time, we describe a patient with an already repaired driveline and a massive constriction and twisting of the driveline in the area of the repair site. This dramatic finding necessitates a renewed exchange of the external part of the driveline by the manufacturer. Due to the increasing number of patients with elongated LVAD support, the stability of the driveline and possible repairs including the replacement of the driveline are becoming more and more important. Our case report describes a possible serious late complication after replacement of the driveline, shows possible risks for this development, and describes the necessity of a prophylactic X-ray examination of repaired drivelines to detect such complications as early as possible.

Though ventricular assist devices (VADs) are an important treatment option for acute heart failure, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) is usually used in pediatric patients for several reasons. However, a temporary centrifugal pump-based Bi-VAD might have clinical advantages versus ECMO or implantable VADs. From January 2000 to July 2018, we retrospectively reviewed 36 pediatric patients who required mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for acute heart failure. Cases with postoperative MCS were excluded. Since 2016, we have tried to immediately add a right VAD rather than ECMO, when the patients begin to present features of right heart failure after left VAD support started in cases that the patients' respiratory function did not require an oxygenator. Original diagnoses included dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 18), myocarditis (n = 11), and others (n = 7). Eleven patients were supported by Bi-VAD, and 25 patients were supported by ECMO; of these. Four patients were successfully weaned from VAD, and 10 patients were weaned from ECMO. Eleven patients underwent heart transplantation. Overall, we have 15 (41.7%) early mortalities. There were no significant differences in early mortality, morbidity, and weaning rate between the Bi-VAD group and the ECMO group. During the support, patients with Bi-VADs significantly required fewer platelets and showed less hemolysis than ECMO patients. Patients with myocarditis were successfully weaned from Bi-VAD support and bridged to transplantation thereafter. A temporary centrifugal pump-based Bi-VAD was clinically comparable to ECMO for pediatric patients with acceptable pulmonary function.

Background: The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is rising with ageing population and constitutes a major health problem globally. A common complication of HF is pulmonary hypertension (PH) which negatively impacts survival. A pathophysiological association between HF and PH with tumorigenic processes has been suggested. We aimed to identify the plasma levels of, and the association between tumour-related proteins and hemodynamic improvements in patients with HF and PH due to left heart disease (LHD) before and 1-year after heart transplantation (HT)., Methods: Forty-eight tumour-related proteins were measured with proximity extension assay in plasma from 20 controls and 26 HF patients before and 1-year after HT. Patients' hemodynamics were measured with right heart catheterization., Results: Out of 48 proteins, specifically, plasma levels of endocan and brother of CDO (BOC) were elevated in end-stage HF patients compared to controls (p < 0.001), but decreased after HT (p < 0.01), towards controls' levels. The decrease of endocan levels after HT correlated with improved mean pulmonary arterial pressure (r s  = 0.80, p < 0.0001), pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (r s  = 0.63, p = 0.0012), and pulmonary vascular resistance (r s  = 0.70, p < 0.001). The decrease and normalization of BOC after HT correlated with decreased mean right atrial pressure (r s  = 0.61 p = 0.0015) and NT-proBNP (r s  = 0.57, p = 0.0022), as well as increased cardiac index (r s  = - 0.51, p = 0.0086) and left-ventricular stroke work index (r s  = - 0.57, p = 0.0039)., Conclusion: Our results suggest that (i) plasma endocan in HF may reflect the state of pulmonary vascular congestion and PH-LHD, whereas (ii) plasma BOC may reflect the cardiac function and the hemodynamic overload in HF. The exact role of these proteins and their clinical applicability as biomarkers in HF and PH-LHD ought to be investigated in larger cohorts.

We herein report an unusual life-threatening complication with the Hearmate 3 centrifugal ventricular assist device: proximal outflow graft extrinsic compression due to external thrombus leading to pump dysfunction and urgent heart transplantation. Low flow alarms without other abnormalities lead to the diagnosis of outflow occlusion. There was no evidence for a twist of the outflow graft, and no evidence for outflow thrombosis. The location of the outflow occlusion was particularly difficult to diagnose due to metallic artifacts around the pump. This report underscores that this complication should be screened in case of persistent low-flow alarms with the Heartmate 3 centrifugal pump.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is an important treatment option for patients with advanced heart failure. The presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) may elicit undesired consequences in LVAD patients: hypoxemia and paradoxical embolization. The variable physiological status of the patient with heart failure can make pre-LVAD implant identification of a PFO elusive. When identified pre- or intraoperatively, PFO is closed at time of LVAD implantation. In the case of delayed diagnosis, percutaneous PFO closure has proven to be a feasible and safe solution. As mechanical circulatory support gains prevalence, it is important to raise awareness of physiological implications of right-to-left shunt during mechanical circulatory support. We reviewed the diagnostic and therapeutic management of PFO in LVAD patients.

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a rare complication associated with high mortality after heart transplantation, which may require veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support. A standardized definition for PGD was developed by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation in 2014. Due to limited reports using this definition, the detailed outcomes after VA-ECMO support remain unclear. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed our single-center outcomes of PGD following VA-ECMO support. Between September 2014 and August 2018, 160 patients underwent heart transplantation in our single center. Nine PGD patients required VA-ECMO support, with an incidence of 5.6%. Pre-operative recipient/donor demographics, intra-operative variables, timing of VA-ECMO initiation and support duration, graft function recovery during 30 days after heart transplant, VA-ECMO complications, and survival were analyzed. The indication for VA-ECMO support was biventricular failure for all nine patients. Six patients had severe PGD requiring intra-operative VA-ECMO, while two patients had moderate PGD and one patient had mild PGD requiring post-operative VA-ECMO. All cohorts were successfully decannulated in a median of 10 days. Survival to discharge rate was 88.9%. One-year survival rate was 85.7%. Left ventricular ejection fraction recovered to normal within 30 days in all PGD patients. Our study showed VA-ECMO support led to high survival and timely graft function recovery in all cohorts. Further larger research can clarify the detailed effects of VA-ECMO support which may lead to standardized indication of VA-ECMO support for PGD patients.

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are implicated in cardiovascular growth and remodelling. We aimed to identify the plasma levels of RTKs and related proteins and their association with haemodynamic alterations in heart failure (HF) and related pulmonary hypertension (PH) following heart transplantation (HT). Using proximity extension assay, 28 RTKs and related proteins were analysed in plasma from 20 healthy controls and 26 HF patients before and 1-year after HT. In end-stage HF, out of 28 RTKs, plasma vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) and human epidermal growth factor-4 (HER4) were elevated compared to controls (p < 0.001), but decreased (p < 0.0001) and normalised after HT. Following HT, plasma changes (Δ) of VEGF-D correlated with Δmean pulmonary artery pressure (r s  = 0.65, p = 0.00049), Δpulmonary artery wedge pressure (r s  = 0.72, p < 0.0001), Δpulmonary arterial compliance (PAC) (r s  = - 0.52, p = 0.0083) and Δpulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (r s  = 0.58, p = 0.0032). ΔHER4 correlated with Δmean right atrial pressure (r s  = 0.51, p = 0.012), ΔNT-proBNP (r s  = 0.48, p = 0.016) and Δcardiac index (r s  = - 0.56, p = 0.0044). In HF patients following HT, normalisation of VEGF-D reflected reversal of passive pulmonary congestion and restored PAC and PVR; whereas the normalisation of HER4 reflected decreased volume overload and improved cardiac function. The precise function of these proteins, their potential clinical use and pathophysiological relation in HF and related PH remain to be elucidated.

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are life-saving options for children with heart failure unresponsive to medical therapy as a bridge to transplantation or cardiac recovery. We present a retrospective review of 13 consecutive children who underwent implantation of VAD between 2001 and 2018 in our center. The median age was 12 years (1-17 years), weight was 45 kg (10-82 kg). Etiologies of heart failure were dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP) (n = 8), myocarditis (n = 2), ischemic CMP (n = 1), restrictive CMP (n = 1) and congenital heart disease (n = 1). Pre-implantation ECMO was used in 5, mechanical ventilation in 4, renal replacement therapy in 2 and IABP in 1. Devices used were: Berlin Heart EXCOR left VAD (LVAD), biventricular VAD (BIVAD) (n = 5, 2), CentriMag LVAD, BIVAD (n = 1, 2), HeartWare (n = 2), HeartMate II (n = 1). Median duration of support was 45 days (3-823 days). Overall survival was 85%. Four patients were successfully bridged to transplantation, 2 died while on a device, 4 remain on support and 3 were weaned from VAD. Late death occurred in 2 transplanted patients. Complications included bleeding requiring reoperation in 1, neurologic events in 3, driveline infections and pericardial effusion in 2 each. In one patient, CentriMag BIVAD provided support for 235 days, which is longest reported duration on such a VAD in the Asia Pacific region. Survival for pediatric patients of all ages is excellent using VADs. Given the severity of illness in these children morbidity and mortality is acceptable. VADs could potentially be used as a long-term bridge to transplantation in view of the donor shortage in the pediatric population.

We have created a simulation model to investigate the interactions between a variety of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices and the circulatory system with various simulated patient conditions and disease states. The present simulation accommodates a family of continuous-flow MCS devices under various stages of consideration or development at our institution. This article describes the mathematical core of the in silico simulation system and shows examples of simulation output imitating various disease states and of selected in vitro and clinical data from the literature.

Currently in Japan, a left ventricular assist device powered by an abdominal driveline is the only type of left ventricular assist device available. The driveline is vulnerable to infection secondary to inappropriate fixation and the traditional Japanese custom of bathing is prohibited in patients with an abdominal driveline. The Jarvik 2000 with postauricular cable is a left ventricular assist device in which the driveline exits the body behind the ear (postauricular) instead of exiting through an abdominal site. This case report is the first to describe the implantation of Jarvik 2000 with postauricular cable as destination therapy in a Japanese patient. This device enables patients to take a bath and may reduce the incidence of driveline infection.