Central extracorporeal circulatory life support (cECLS) in selected patients with critical cardiogenic shock

BackgroundPercutaneous extracorporeal life support (pECLS) is increasingly applied in cardiogenic shock (CS) despite a lack of evidence from randomized trials. The in-hospital mortality rate of pECLS still reaches up to 60%, while vascular access site complications remain a shortcoming. Surgical approaches with central cannulation for ECLS (cELCS) have emerged as a bail-out option. To date, no systematic approach exists that allows a definition of inclusion or exclusion criteria for cECLS.Methods and resultsThis single-center, retrospective, case-control study includes all patients fulfilling criteria for CS at the West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen/Germany between 2015 and 2020 who underwent cECLS (n = 58), excluding post-cardiotomy patients. Seventeen patients received cECLS (29.3%) as a first-line treatment strategy and 41 patients as a second-line strategy (70.7%). The main complications leading to the use of cECLS as a second-line strategy were limb ischemia (32.8%) and ongoing insufficient hemodynamic support (27.6%). The first-line cECLS cohort showed a 30-day mortality rate of 53.3% that was constant during follow-up. The 30-day mortality rate of secondary cECLS candidates was 69.8% and the rate at 3 and 6 months was 79.1%. Younger patients (<55 years) were more likely to exhibit survival benefit with cECLS (p = 0.043).ConclusionSurgical cECLS in CS is a feasible therapy for highly selected patients with hemodynamic instability, vascular complications, or peripheral access site limitations as complementary strategy in experienced centers

Short-term mechanical support with the Impella 5.x for mitral valve surgery in advanced heart failure—protected cardiac surgery

IntroductionSurgical treatment of patients with mitral valve regurgitation and advanced heart failure remains challenging. In order to avoid peri-operative low cardiac output, Impella 5.0 or 5.5 (5.x), implanted electively in a one-stage procedure, may serve as a peri-operative short-term mechanical circulatory support system (st-MCS) in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.MethodsBetween July 2017 and April 2022, 11 consecutive patients underwent high-risk mitral valve surgery for mitral regurgitation supported with an Impella 5.x system (Abiomed, Inc. Danvers, MA). All patients were discussed in the heart team and were either not eligible for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) or surgery was considered favorable. In all cases, the indication for Impella 5.x implantation was made during the preoperative planning phase.ResultsThe mean age at the time of surgery was 61.6 ± 7.7 years. All patients presented with mitral regurgitation due to either ischemic (n = 5) or dilatative (n = 6) cardiomyopathy with a mean ejection fraction of 21 ± 4% (EuroScore II 6.1 ± 2.5). Uneventful mitral valve repair (n = 8) or replacement (n = 3) was performed via median sternotomy (n = 8) or right lateral mini thoracotomy (n = 3). In six patients, concomitant procedures, either tricuspid valve repair, aortic valve replacement or CABG were necessary. The mean duration on Impella support was 8 ± 5 days. All, but one patient, were successfully weaned from st-MCS, with no Impella-related complications. 30-day survival was 90.9%.ConclusionProtected cardiac surgery with st-MCS using the Impella 5.x is safe and feasible when applied in high-risk mitral valve surgery without st-MCS-related complications, resulting in excellent outcomes. This strategy might offer an alternative and comprehensive approach for the treatment of patients with mitral regurgitation in advanced heart failure, deemed ineligible for TEER or with need of concomitant surgery

Composition of ex vivo perfusion solutions and kinetics define differential cytokine/chemokine secretion in a porcine cardiac arrest model of lung preservation

BackgroundEx vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) uses continuous normothermic perfusion to reduce ischemic damage and to improve post-transplant outcomes, specifically for marginal donor lungs after the donation after circulatory death. Despite major efforts, the optimal perfusion protocol and the composition of the perfusate in clinical lung transplantation have not been identified. Our study aims to compare the concentration levels of cytokine/chemokine in different perfusion solutions during EVLP, after 1 and 9 h of cold static preservation (CSP) in a porcine cardiac arrest model, and to correlate inflammatory parameters to oxygenation capacities.MethodsFollowing cardiac arrest, the lungs were harvested and were categorized into two groups: immediate (I-EVLP) and delayed EVLP (D-EVLP), after 1 and 9 h of CSP, respectively. The D-EVLP lungs were perfused with either Steen or modified Custodiol-N solution containing only dextran (CD) or dextran and albumin (CDA). The cytokine/chemokine levels were analyzed at baseline (0 h) and after 1 and 4 h of EVLP using Luminex-based multiplex assays.ResultsWithin 4 h of EVLP, the concentration levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CXCL8, IFN-γ, IL-1α, and IL-1β increased significantly (P < 0.05) in all experimental groups. The CD solution contained lower concentration levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CXCL8, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, IL-10, IL-4, IL-1RA, and IL-18 (P < 0.05) compared with those of the Steen solution. The concentration levels of all experimental groups have correlated negatively with the oxygenation capacity values (P < 0.05). Protein concentration levels did not reach statistical significance for I-EVLP vs. D-EVLP and CD vs. CDA solutions.ConclusionIn a porcine cardiac arrest model, a longer period of CSP prior to EVLP did not result in an enhanced protein secretion into perfusates. The CD solution reduced the cytokine/chemokine secretion most probably by iron chelators and/or by the protecting effects of dextran. Supplementing with albumin did not further reduce the cytokine/chemokine secretion into perfusates. These findings may help in optimizing the preservation procedure of the lungs, thereby increasing the donor pool of organs

Erectile dysfunction and quality of life in patients under left ventricular assist device support − an unspoken issue

Background: Multiple domains of quality of life (QoL) such as erectile function are not sufficiently investigated among left ventricular assist-device (LVAD) patients. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and its association with QoL and depression. Methods: This is a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional study. We included adult male LVAD patients who were clinically stable after at least 3 months post-implantation. Erectile function was assessed with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire with a score of ≤21 being confirmatory for ED. QoL and depression were estimated with the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-8), respectively. Results: The study included 56 patients, of whom 45 (80 %) met criteria for ED, a prevalence much higher than previously reported in patients with established cardiovascular disease or conservatively treated heart failure. Patients with ED were older and had lower 6-minute walking distance. ED was not associated with comorbidities and heart failure medications but with less frequent use of diuretics and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. There was a correlation between erectile function and depression as well as QoL. Conclusions: These findings underscore that ED deserves special attention and should be included in a multi-targeted approach to address suboptimal QoL outcomes after LVAD implantation

Five-year follow-up of mitral valve repair versus replacement: a propensity score analysis

Abstract Background Mitral valve repair (MVRe) is considered to have a superior outcome compared to replacement (MVRp) in patients with mitral valve regurgitation (MVR). It was the aim of the study to analyse the clinical results and identify risk factors for short and long-term mortality. Methods In a retrospective single-center analysis, patients undergoing an isolated mitral valve procedure from June 2010 to December 2016 were identified. These were subsequently homogenized using 10 baseline characteristics for propensity-score matching. Comparative analyses were performed for early and long-term results, using adequate statistical tools, and identifying risk factors for the investigated endpoints, primary end-point: all-cause mortality within 5 years and secondary end-points: recurrent MVR, reoperation, endocarditis and/or mortality with 30 days, 1, 3 and 5 years. Results 241 patients were identified in the entire patient cohort. After matching, patients were divided into 2 groups of 64 each respectively. The median age was similar in the two groups. There was a significant interaction between early mortality risk of MV in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR 11.94, 95% CI 1.49–285.92, p = 0.04) and late mortality in patients with higher EuroSCORE II (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06–1.23, p < 0.001). The primary end-point showed 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in MVRe versus MVRp (90.06% vs. 79.54% respectively, p = 0.04). The secondary end-point demonstrated recurrent MVR not to be statistically significant between the 2 groups (p = 0.09) as well as reoperation (p = 0.28). Endocarditis was observed in one patient after MVRp. Conclusions We concluded MVRe to be associated with lower operative and 5-year mortality and good postoperative outcomes compared to patients undergoing MVRp. Concomitant CAD was identified as one of the risk factors for increasing the in-hospital mortality rate. There was no significant difference in rehospitalisation over the follow-up period. MVRe should be the treatment of choice for severe MVR and should remain a central aspect in valve centers' treatment algorithms and quality measures

Myocardial Expression of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Patients with Heart Failure

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic inflammatory protein and contributes to several different inflammatory and ischemic/hypoxic diseases. MIF was shown to be cardioprotective in experimental myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and its expression is regulated by the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α. We here report on MIF expression in the failing human heart and assess myocardial MIF in different types of cardiomyopathy. Myocardial tissue samples from n = 30 patients were analyzed by quantitative Real-Time PCR. MIF and HIF-1α mRNA expression was analyzed in myocardial samples from patients with ischemic (ICM) and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) and from patients after heart transplantation (HTX). MIF expression was elevated in myocardial samples from patients with ICM compared to NICM. Transplanted hearts showed lower MIF levels compared to hearts from patients with ICM. Expression of HIF-1α was analyzed and was shown to be significantly increased in ICM patients compared to patients with NICM. MIF and HIF-1α mRNA is expressed in the human heart. MIF and HIF-1α expression depends on the underlying type of cardiomyopathy. Patients with ICM show increased myocardial MIF and HIF-1α expression

Custodiol-MP for ex vivo lung perfusion - A comparison in a porcine model of donation after circulatory determination of death

Introduction: Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is an established technique to evaluate and eventually recondition lungs prior to transplantation. Custodiol-MP (C-MP) solution is a new solution, designed for clinical machine perfusion, that has been used for kidneys. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of EVLP with Custodiol-MP on lung functional outcomes to the gold standard of EVLP with Steen Solution (TM). Material and Methods: In a porcine EVLP model of DCDD (Donation after Circulatory Determination of Death), lungs were perfused with Steen Solution (TM) (SS, n = 7) or Custodiol-MP solution supplemented with 55 g/l albumin (C-MP, n = 8). Lungs were stored cold for 4 h in low potassium dextran solution and subsequently perfused ex vivo for 4 h. During EVLP pulmonary gas exchange, activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) as well as levels of lactate in the perfusate were recorded hourly. Results: Oxygenation capacity differed significantly between groups (averaged over 4 h: SS 274 +/- 178 mmHg; C-MP 284 +/- 151 mmHg p = 0.025). Lactate dehydrogenase activities and lactate concentrations were significantly lower in Custodiol-MP perfused lungs. In a porcine model of DCDD with 4 h of EVLP the use of modified Custodiol-MP as perfusion solution was feasible. The use of C-MP showed at least comparable lung functional outcomes to the use of Steen Solution(TM). Furthermore C-MP perfusion resulted in significantly lower lactate dehydrogenase activity and lactate levels in the perfusate and higher oxygenation capacity