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Patients with end-stage heart failure (HF), pulmonary hypertension and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) despite medical therapy are not eligible for heart transplantation (HTx). In this ‘proof of concept’ case series, we demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of the MitraClip procedure as ‘bridge to list’ in end-stage HF patients not eligible for HTx. In fact, in the three patients reported, who were initially excluded from the HTx list because of elevated PVR, the MitraClip procedure was followed by a sustained improvement of PVR, allowing the patients’ risk to be reclassified, and they were then considered eligible for HTx.

Background Cardiac conduction disturbances frequently occur following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). As this procedure is getting more and more common, more research efforts should focus on post procedural rhythm disturbances and their evolution over time Purpose To evaluate the percentage of pacing in patients who underwent a TAVR procedure and developed a conduction disturbance requiring a transvenous pacemaker (PM) implantation Methods We considered all the patients who underwent a TAVR procedure between march 2009 and november 2018 in our centre. Patients implanted with a PM or an ICD before the TAVR procedure or 30 days after the TAVR were not considered eligible for our analysis, because likely not related to TAVR. The percentage of effective right ventricular pacing was assessed both at mid- and long-term follow-up Results 265 patients underwent TAVR in the study period (45% males, 81±6 years). 20 patients already had a PM and were excluded. 39 of the 245 patients (16%) were implanted with a PM after TAVR, 26 of them were implanted within 30 days (median time TAVR-PM implant: 8±7 days). The rate of PM implant within 30 days after TAVR was 8% (20/246) for patients implanted with an Edward Sapien valve, 25% (4/16) for patients with an Evolute Pro valve and 66% (2/3) in patients with a Lotus Edge valve. The indication for PM implant was a permanent 3rd degree A-V block in 12 patients, a paroxysmal A-V block in 4, a bifascicular A-V block with an infra-hisian disease in 5, a II degree Mobitz II A-V block in 2, an atrial fibrillation with slow A-V conduction in 2 and a 2:1 A-V block with infra-hisian disease in 1. The first follow-up after the PM implantation was available in 24 patients (mean 78±87 days after PM implant) and the second in 15 patients (372±267 days after PM implant). The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence/absence of permanent 3rd degree AV block at the time of implantation. At the first follow-up the percentage of pacing was significantly higher in patients implanted with vs. without a permanent 3rd degree AV block (98.5% vs 11%, p Conclusion Patients implanted with a PM after TAVR in the absence of a permanent 3rd AV block have a very low likelihood of progression to a permanent AV conduction disturbance and show a negligible percentage of pacing during follow-up. Our results may impact the choice of the correct timing of PM implantation after TAVR and the potential indication for a leadless PM.

Cardiogenic shock is a complex clinical status characterized by a progressive multi-organ dysfunction determined by the failure of the heart to deliver an adequate amount of blood to the tissues. It complicates approximately 5–10% of cases with acute myocardial infarction. Ischemia due to decreased coronary perfusion leads to muscle hypoxia and necrosis which compromises myocardial contractility. This leads to decreased cardiac output and a subsequent drop in the arterial blood pressure. Coronary revascularization should be performed as soon as possible after AMI and shock onset. After the SHOCK trial, we have witnessed the reduction in the incidence of cardiogenic shock due to early revascularization. Although the primary endpoint, all-cause mortality at 30 days, did not differ between the initial medical stabilization and early revascularization group, there was a significant decrease in mortality after 1 and 6 years in patients assigned to early revascularization. In this chapter incidence, pathophysiology, etiology, clinical symptoms, and therapeutic options in cardiogenic shock are discussed. Two clinical cases and a case scenario allow the reader to get through the content.

The prevalence of combined severe aortic stenosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm is increasing with the aging of the population. Both conditions are associated with adverse outcome if not adequately managed. The choice of the optimal treatment of these patients is challenging and no clear recommendations are available. We report 2 cases of patients with concomitant severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm successfully treated with combined transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). The reported cases demonstrate the versatility of transcatheter techniques and suggest that, in carefully selected patients, the combined procedure of TAVI plus EVAR, if performed by multidisciplinary expert operators, is safe and effective.

Background The role of percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) in patients with end-stage heart failure (HF) and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is unclear. Methods Seventy-five consecutive patients with FMR grade ≥ 3 + and severe HF symptoms despite optimal medical therapy and resynchronization therapy underwent PMVR with the MitraClip system (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL, USA) at 3 centers. Clinical evaluation, echocardiography and pro-BNP measurement were performed at baseline and at 6-month. Results Mean age was 67 ± 11 years, logistic EuroSCORE = 23 ± 18%, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) 30 ± 9%. In 6 patients (8%) PMVR was performed as a bridge to heart transplant; many patients were dependent from iv diuretics and/or inotropes. Rate of serious adverse in-hospital events was 1.3% (1 patient who died after conversion to cardiac surgery). Sixty-three patients (84%) were discharged with MR ≤ 2 +. At 6-month, 4 patients died (5%), 80% had MR ≤ 2 + and 75% were in New York Heart Association class ≤ II. Median pro-BNP decreased from 4395 pg/ml to 2594 pg/ml (p = 0.04). There were no significant changes in LV end-diastolic volume (222 ± 75 ml vs. 217 ± 79, p = 0.19), end-systolic volume (LVESV, 154 ± 66 ml vs. 156 ± 69, p = 0.54) and LVEF (30 ± 9% vs. 30 ± 12%, p = 0.86). Significant reverse remodeling (reduction of LVESV ≥ 10%) was observed in 25%, without apparent association with baseline characteristics. The number of hospitalizations for HF in comparison with the 6 months before PMVR were reduced from 1.1 ± 0.8 to 0.3 ± 0.6 (p

Objective The increasing number of patients awaiting heart transplant and the shortage of donors led to the development of a variety of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). We analyse our experience in order to evaluate the efficacy of LVAD as bridge to transplant and the feasibility of permanent implantation. Patients The data are drawn from our experience on 50 patients, implanted with the Novacor LVAD and from a limited series of 4 patients implanted with a Lion Heart totally implantable permanent LVAD. Results Seventeen patients died on the device, 32 underwent heart transplant (9 died after transplant) and one is still on device. The causes of death were mostly related to cerebrovascular events or multi-organ failure. Cardiac output, wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance and mean pulmonary pressure improved significantly. Cerebrovascular complications occurred mostly during the first 3 months of assistance, whereas the incidence of infections remained constant during the follow-up period. With a mean time of assistance of 211 days, we had only two cases of device malfunction. The four Lion-Heart patients experienced a clear improvement in hemodynamics but at a price of a significant complication rate. Three of them died after 418, 105 and 380 days of assistance. Device malfunction was observed in two cases. Conclusions LVAD Novacor has shown good hemodynamic improvement and reliable mechanical performance and long-term bridging can be considered fairly safe since most complications seem to occur within the first 90 days. Destination therapy with totally implantable devices seems to need further engineering and technical development.

More patients with end-stage heart failure are now being supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) as a bridge to heart transplant. The LVAD unloads the failing heart and modifies the myocardial structure, with regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. The regression of hypertrophy has been reported histomorphologically in paired samples of myocardial tissues obtained from the same patient at the time of LVAD implantation and the heart excised at transplant. The understanding of the mechanisms of recovery may contribute to strategic development for LVAD weaning and the use of LVAD as a destination therapy.

Objective. The mechanisms of atrial fibrillation arc multiple reentry circuits spinning around the atrial surface, and these baffle any attempt to direct surgical interruption. The purpose of this article is to report the surgical experience in the treatment of isolated and concomitant atrial fibrillation at the Cardiac Surgical Institute of the University of Pavia. Methods. In cases of atrial fibrillation secondary to mitral/valve disease, surgical isolation of the left atrium at the time of mitral valve surgery can prevent atrial fibrillation from involving the right atrium, which can exert its diastolic pump function on the right ventricle. Left atrial isolation was performed on 205 patients at the time of mitral valve surgery. Atrial partitioning (maze operation) creates straight and blind atrial alleys so that non-recentry circuits can take place. Five patients underwent this procedure. In eight-cases of atrial fibrillation secondary to atrial septal defect, the adult patients with atrial septal defect and chronic or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent surgical isolation of the right atrium associated which surgical correction of the defect, in order to let sinus rhythm govern the left atrium and the ventricles. Lone atrial fibrillation occurs in hearts with no detectable organic disease. Bi-atrial isolation with creation of an atrial septal internodal corridor was performed on 14 patients. Results. In cases of atrial fibrillation secondary to mitral valve disease, left atrial isolation was performed on 205 patients at the time of mitral valve surgery with an overall sinus rhythm recovery of 77%. In the same - period, sinus rhythm was recovered and persisted in only 19% of 252 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement along (P

ObjectivesA multicentric European Clinical Study is ongoing to evaluate safety and efficacy of a new pulsatile implantable LVAD (BestBeat), smaller and lighter than similar devices, capable of providing synchronous and counterpulsating flow with respect to the LV of end-stage heart failure patients. Preliminary clinical results are reported.MethodsThe new BestBeat LVAD was used, consisting of an implantable pulsatile blood pump, electromechanically driven by a ball screw mechanism, and a wearable electronic controller and power sources. The clinical trial was conducted at 5 European centers. Adult patients affected by CHF in NYHA Class IV despite optimized medical treatment were enrolled. The primary study endpoint was survival at 90 days. Further study endpoints were maintenance of adequate LVAD pump flow and a minimum rate of adverse events during support.ResultsAs of June 2008, 6 patients received the implant. Cumulative support time was 3.7 years, median support time 176 days. All patients who completed the study survived except for one, who died after 48 days, due to combined infection and cerebrovascular accident. Another two patients died: one from intracranial bleeding 113 days after implant, and one from septic shock after 123 days. Hemodynamic improvement with Cl>2.0 l/min/m2and recovery of end-organ function expressed by consistent improvement of BUN, creatinine and bilirubin were reached in all patients. No device failure was observed. There was no bleeding requiring re-exploration, no hemolysis and only two device-related infections (both in one patient). Neurologic events were reported, the most serious ones occurring in patients with pre-implant respiratory and kidney failure. Three patients were discharged home. Two patients were successfully transplanted, one after 6 months and one after 13 months on device.ConclusionsGood performance and efficacy of the device were observed; the endpoints of the study were achieved, and its safety was consistent with expectations. The ongoing study will allow further conclusions to be drawn.

Right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device placement is the major concern on weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and it is one of the most serious complications in the postoperative period. This complication has a poor prognosis and is generally unpredictable. The identification of pre-operative risk factor for this serious complication is incomplete yet. In order to determine pre-operative risk for severe right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device support we analyzed preoperative hemodynamics, laboratory data and characteristics of 48 patients who received Novacor (World Heart Corp., Ottawa, ON, Canada). We compared the data from the patients who developed right ventricular failure and the patients who did not. Right ventricular failure occurred in 16% of the patients. There was no significant difference between the groups in demographic characteristics. We identified as preoperative risk factors the pre-operative low mean pulmonary artery and the impairment of hepatic and renal function on laboratory data. Our results confirm in part the findings of the few previous studies. This information may be useful for the patient selection for isolated left ventricular assist device implantation, but other studies are necessary before establishing criteria for patient selection for univentricular support universally accepted.

Purpose The aim of the present study is to describe our preliminary experience with the Arrow CorAide left ventricular assist system (LVAS). Description The Arrow CorAide LVAS is a small implantable, continuous flow centrifugal pump, with a fully suspended rotating assembly, intended as a bridge to transplant device, bridge to recovery, and for long-term use. Evaluation Since April 2005 we have implanted the CorAide LVAS in 2 male patients, with a patient follow-up of more than 6 months. Surgical procedures were uneventful, and both patients had an uneventful postoperative course, with fast weaning from mechanical ventilation and inotropic support. No thromboembolic events, infective complication, hemolysis, or mechanical failure occurred. To date, both patients are in New York Heart Association class I. Conclusions In our initial experience the CorAide LVAS blood pump is nonthrombogenic, nonhemolytic, and easy to implant. Both patients have improved their functional status. Further follow-up is needed to assess long-term results.

A 62-year-oldmale, affected by ischemic cardiomyopathy, received a Jarvik 2000. Seventeen months later he complained of angina. An electrocardiogram (ECG) presented inferior leads ST-elevation, and blood chemistry showed increased Troponin-I. Angiography (Video 1) showed right coronary thrombosis, venous graft to obtuse marginal, and device in left ventricle apex (Figs. 1(a) and 2). After thromboaspiration/stenting, thrombolysis in myocardial ischemia-III (TIMI-III) flow was restored (Fig. 1(b) and Video 2). www.elsevier.com/locate/ejcts European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery 39 (2011) 1076

A 42-year-old male underwent Novacor left ventricular assist device. Readmitted after 11 months for fever and dyspnea, corynebacterium was isolated and treated with ampicillin and gentamicin for 6 weeks. Transplanted after 388 days on support, device inspection showed one leaflet of the porcine inflow valve perforated by endocarditis process (Fig. 1). www.elsevier.com/locate/ejcts European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery 35 (2009) 910