The Texas Heart Institute reports its experience with 27 patients with prior continuous flow LVADs who had undergone varying degrees of device explantation. Although the numbers are small, the explantation methods ranged from near-complete device removal to driveline transection and removal.
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Heart Failure
August 14, 2015
August 12, 2015
A single institution retrospectively reviewed the correlation of preoperative serum albumin level with outcomes after LVAD implantation from 2006 to 2014. A lower albumin level was associated with a significant increase in postop renal failure and prolonged hospitalization, but not overall short-term and long-term survival.
August 6, 2015
This retrospective analysis of the BTT continuous flow (CF) LVAD experience from Harefield Hospital addresses the question: "What are the predictors of the requirement for an RVAD at the time of LVAD implantation?" Of the 152 patients included in the study, 23% underwent RVAD implantation.
May 17, 2015
The question of whether digoxin increases the risk of death in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or congestive heart failure (CHF) continues to be a matter of debate. The authors of this manuscript attempt to find an answer with a meta-analysis and systematic review of the literature.
May 10, 2015
This is a follow up study by the investigators on aortic valve opening during continuous flow LVAD support. Their earlier study looked at the rate of aortic insufficiency during CF LVAD support therapy comparing patients who achieved aortic valve opening during rest versus those who did not.
April 9, 2015
This concensus statement reviews the unique physiology, insertion techniques, and clinical indications for use of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support devices. As the options for management of different etiologies of heart failure in adult and pediatric populations expand, understanding the advantages of specific devices is vital.
Extracorporeal life support in cardiogenic shock: impact of acute versus chronic etiology on outcome
March 2, 2015
The authors retrospectively analyze outcomes for patients placed on ECMO for cardiogenic shock, and separately analyze the patients depending on whether the ECMO support was for isolated acute cardiogenic shock or for acute-upon-chronic cardiogenic shock.
January 25, 2015
This study from the University of Texas Southwestern sought to analyze the effects of mechanical unloading during prolonged LVAD support on mitochondrial mass, DNA damage response (DDR), and cardiomyocyte proliferation. Ten matched human samples of LV myocardium were analyzed before and after mechanical circulatory support.
January 17, 2015
The authors perform a meta-analysis of the limited studies available on the utility of tricuspid valve surgery in patients with significant TR at the time of LVAD implantation. No RCTs are available on this issue; however, six observational studies were analyzed by the group.
December 1, 2014
This is an excellent article on the feasibility of offering Veno Arterial ECMO in outlying community hospitals for Refractory Cardiogenic Shock (RCS). The Authors review a four year time period and describe assessing 104 patients of whom 87 were deemed eligible for V-A ECMO therapy.