Pulmonary artery pulsatility index predicts mechanical circulatory support following heart transplantation

Background: The incidence of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for early graft dysfunction (EGD) following heart transplantation varies from 2.3% to 28.2%. Low pulmonary pulsatility index (PAPI) is associated with higher mortality in advanced heart failure and cardiogenic shock. We hypothesized that a lower pulmonary pulsatility index following heart transplantation is associated with MCS use for EGD Methods: Two-center study of consecutive heart transplantation from May 2018 to December 2022. Hemodynamic parameters and inotropic/vasoconstrictor data were investigated on admission to the intensive care unit (T0) and at 6 hours later (T6). Results: Of the 173 patients included in this study, 24 had MCS for EGD. PAPI in the group that required MCS was lower at T0 (1.21 (0.84) vs 1.67 (1.23), p = 0.001) and T6 (0.77 (0.52) vs 1.44 (0.82), p =