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Objective: In patients with advanced heart failure, heart transplantation is currently the most effective treatment. However, in a low-organ donation environment, it is usually necessary to proceed in long-term mechanical circulatory support through left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation as bridge-to-transplantation., Methods: The study included all patients with advanced heart failure who underwent continuous flow LVAD implantation as a bridge to transplant strategy in our center (n = 68). Following LVAD implantation and for the period that patients were on LVAD support, pump thrombosis, strokes, gastrointestinal bleeding, and right heart failure occurrence rates were recorded. Outcomes were compared between patients implanted with HeartMate 3 (HM3) and HeartWare LVADs, as well as between patients who did reach heart transplantation (HTx group) and those who did not (noHTx group)., Results: A total of 35 out of 68 patients underwent heart transplantation at a mean time of 691 ± 457 days; 41 received a HeartWare and 27 a HM3 device. HM3 patients had significantly better survival (p = 0.010) and lower complication rates (p = 0.025). In addition, the noHTx group had significantly higher complication rates compared with the HTx group (p = 0.00041). The 5-year estimated Kaplan-Meier survival rate following heart transplantation was 77%., Conclusion: Patients with advanced heart failure gain substantial benefit from LVADs awaiting heart transplantation. In a low organ donation environment, the need for reliable LVADs can further improve the outcomes through the reduction of complications provided by current devices., (Copyright © 2024 Hellenic Society of Cardiology. Publishing services by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction may complicate the implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). We examined whether inhaled vasodilators can sufficiently reduce RV afterload, avoiding the need for temporary RV mechanical support., Methods: The study includes 7 patients with RV dysfunction after LVAD insertion. Treatment consisted of inotropes, inhaled nitric oxide (10 ppm), and iloprost (10 μg) in repeated doses. Full hemodynamic profile was obtained before inhalation, during administration of inhaled NO alone (before and after iloprost), as well as after the first two doses of inhaled iloprost. Tricuspid annular velocity was estimated at baseline and before and after adding iloprost., Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), RV systolic pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and a considerable increase in LVAD flow, LV flow rate index, and tricuspid annular velocity at all points of evaluation versus baseline. By the end of the protocol, MPAP/mean systemic arterial pressure, and PVR/systemic vascular resistance ratios were reduced by 0.17±0.03 (95% confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.25, p=0.001) and 0.12±0.025 (95% confidence interval, 0.06 to 0.18; p=0.003), respectively. The tricuspid annular velocity increased by 2.3±0.18 cm/s (95% confidence interval, 1.83 to 2.73 cm/s; p<0.001). Pairwise comparisons before and after iloprost showed an important decrease in PVR (p=0.022), MPAP (p=0.001), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (p=0.002), and RV systolic pressure (p<0.001), and a rise in tricuspid annular velocity (p=0.008)., Conclusions: Inhaled vasodilators mainly affected the pulmonary vasculature. Combination treatment with inhaled NO and iloprost sufficiently decreased PVR and MPAP on the basis of an additive effect, improved RV function, and avoided the need for RV assist device., (Copyright © 2012 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)