Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients Undergoing Degenerative Mitral Repair: Prevalence and Impact on Survival.

Objective: Ventricular arrhythmias occur in a subset of patients with mitral valve prolapse. However, their impact on post-operative survival after degenerative mitral repair is unclear.

Methods: We compared long-term survival after degenerative mitral repair in patients presenting with and without arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse (defined by degenerative mitral regurgitation and ventricular arrhythmias) in a national insurance database.

Long-term outcomes of isolated tricuspid surgery in 3706 patients: Implications for the future.

Objectives: Early and late outcomes of isolated tricuspid surgery in contemporary practice are poorly defined. This statewide analysis evaluated the early and late outcomes of isolated tricuspid repair and replacement.

Methods: From the Department of Health Care Access and Information of California State admissions database, 3706 patients who underwent isolated tricuspid repair (2419, 65.

Robotic Lung Transplantation: Feasibility, Initial Experience, and 3-Year Outcomes.

Background: Lung transplantation is performed through clamshell or sternotomy incisions, which may contribute to morbidity and limit patient eligibility. Robotic lung transplantation offers a less-invasive alternative, but data informing treatment choice are limited. This study was therefore designed to evaluate midterm outcomes of robotic and minimally invasive lung transplantation.

Evaluating the mechanism of action behind controlled hypothermic preservation of donor hearts: A randomized pilot study.

Background: Controlled hypothermic preservation of donor hearts is associated with decreased post-transplant primary graft dysfunction compared to conventional cold storage. However, mechanisms underlying this benefit in human subjects are unclear.

Methods: We randomized 20 heart transplant recipients at a single institution to receive donor hearts preserved with either controlled hypothermic preservation or standard cold storage.

Home sleep apnea testing in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist device: is it feasible?

Study Objectives: The incidence of sleep-related breathing disorder remains unclear in patients with a continuous flow left ventricular assist device. Polysomnography (PSG) remains the gold standard for diagnosis, but logistical challenges make home sleep apnea testing a more practical alternative. WatchPat has failed to accurately diagnose sleep-related breathing disorder in this population.

Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting is Overutilized.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), developed to avoid the potential complications of cardiopulmonary bypass, remains a subject of debate. Studies have demonstrated that off-pump CABG is associated with higher rates of incomplete revascularization, inferior graft patency, and increased reintervention rates compared to on-pump CABG, leading to worse outcomes. The theoretical neuroprotective and renal-protective benefits associated with off-pump CABG have not been definitively proven, with stroke and renal failure rates similar to those of on-pump CABG in both short- and long-term follow-up.

Impact of minimally invasive lung transplantation on early outcomes and analgesia use: A matched cohort study.

Background: Minimally invasive (MI) approaches to lung transplantation (LTx) offer the prospect of faster recovery compared to traditional incisions, however, little data exist describing the impact of surgical technique on early outcomes and analgesia use.

Methods: A prospectively maintained institutional registry identified 170 patients who underwent LTx between January, 2017 and June, 2022. Post-COVID acute respiratory distress syndrome, repeat, and multiorgan transplants were excluded (n = 27) leaving 37 MILTx and 106 traditional LTx patients.

Surgery and transcatheter intervention for degenerative mitral regurgitation in the United States.

Objectives: We evaluated practice trends and 3-year outcomes of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) and surgical repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation in the United States.

Methods: From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data (2012-2019), 53,117 mitral valve interventions (surgery or TEER) were performed for degenerative mitral regurgitation, identified by excluding rheumatic and congenital disease, endocarditis, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and concomitant or prior coronary revascularizations. Median follow-up was 2.

Utility of a score-based approach to liver assessment in heart transplant candidates.

Background: While abnormalities of liver function and imaging are common in patients with end-stage heart failure, advanced fibrosis is uncommon. Liver biopsy (LB) is used to identify advanced fibrosis in heart transplant (HT) candidates but can delay or limit access to definitive therapies and cause complications. We sought to develop and determine the utility of a clinical risk score for advanced fibrosis in HT candidates.

Robotic-assisted lung transplantation: First in man.

Lung transplantation remains the best option for patients with end-stage lung disease. However, this operation has historically carried significant potential morbidity. To improve near-term patient outcomes, attempts have been made to decrease invasiveness, but this is limited by the complex nature of the operation and the anatomy of the chest.

Impact of donor-recipient age-difference in adolescent heart transplantation.

Introduction: The relationship between donor age and adolescent heart transplant outcomes remains incompletely understood. We aimed to explore the effect of donor-recipient age difference on survival after adolescent heart transplantation.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify 2,855 adolescents aged 10-17 years undergoing isolated primary heart transplantation from 1/1/2000 to 12/31/2022.

Heart transplantation in patients from socioeconomically distressed communities.

Background: Studies examining heart transplantation disparities have focused on individual factors such as race or insurance status. We characterized the impact of a composite community socioeconomic disadvantage index on heart transplantation outcomes.

Methods: From the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), we identified 49,340 primary, isolated adult heart transplant candidates and 32,494 recipients (2005-2020).

Repeat pediatric heart transplantation: A united network for organ sharing database analysis.

Background: A history of congenital heart disease and previous transplantation are each independently associated with worse survival following pediatric heart transplantation. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of children undergoing repeat heart transplantation in the United States based on the underlying diagnosis.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify 8111 patients aged <18 years undergoing isolated heart transplantation from 2000 to 2021, including 435 (5.

Lung transplantation outcomes in patients from socioeconomically distressed communities.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated racial and gender disparities in lung allocation, but contemporary data regarding socioeconomic disparities in post-transplant outcomes are lacking. We evaluated the impact of a composite socioeconomic disadvantage index on post-transplant outcomes.

Methods: The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients identified 27,763 adult patients undergoing isolated primary lung transplantation between 2005 and 2020.

Socioeconomic disparities in midterm outcomes after repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Objective: The influence of socioeconomic disparities on survival after mitral repair is poorly defined. We examined the association between socioeconomic disadvantage and midterm outcomes of repair in Medicare beneficiaries with degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Methods: US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data were used to identify 10,322 patients undergoing isolated first-time repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation between 2012 and 2019.

The impact of thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion on early outcomes in donation after circulatory death lung transplantation.

Thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion has emerged as an alternative method to procure donation after circulatory death (DCD) hearts, but its impact on concomitantly procured lung allografts remains unclear. The United Network for Organ Sharing database identified 627 DCD donors whose hearts were procured (211 in situ perfused, 416 directly procured) between December 2019 to December 2022. Lung utilization rates were 14.

Heart retransplant recipients with renal dysfunction benefit from simultaneous heart-kidney transplantation.

Background: Given ongoing donor shortages, appropriate patient selection for dual-organ transplantation is critical. We evaluated outcomes of heart retransplant with simultaneous kidney transplant (HRT-KT) vs isolated heart retransplant (HRT) across varying levels of renal dysfunction.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database identified 1189 adult patients undergoing heart retransplantation between 2005 and 2020.