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The SynCardia total artificial heart (TAH-t) is an effective bridge to transplantation for patients with severe biventricular failure. However, granular single-center data from high volume centers are lacking. We report our experience with the first 100 TAH-t recipients.A prospective institutional database was used to identify 100 patients who underwent 101 TAH-t implantations between 2012 and 2022. Patients were stratified and compared according to Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profile 1 versus2. Median follow-up on device support was 94 days (IQR: 33-276 days), while median post-transplantation follow-up was 4.6 years (IQR: 2.1-6.0 years).Overall, 61 patients (61%) were successfully bridged to transplantation while 39 (39%) died on TAH-t support. Successful bridge rates between INTERMACS profile 1 and INTERMACS profile2 patients were similar (55.6%, 95% CI 40.4-68.3% versus 67.4%, 95% CI 50.5-79.6%, respectively, p=0.50). The most common adverse events (rates per 100 patient-months) on TAH-t support included infection (15.8), ischemic stroke (4.6), reoperation for mediastinal bleeding (3.5), and gastrointestinal bleeding requiring intervention (4.3). The most common cause of death on TAH-t support was multisystem organ failure (n=20, 52.6%). Post-transplantation thirty-day survival was 96.7%, while survival at 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years post-transplantation were 95.1% (95% CI 85.4-98.4%), 86.6% (95% CI 74.9-93.0%), and 77.5% (95% CI 64.2-86.3%), respectively.Acceptable outcomes can be achieved in the highest acuity patients utilizing the TAH-t as a bridge to heart transplantation.

Geometric ring annuloplasty has shown promise during bicuspid aortic valve repair for aortic insufficiency. This study examined early outcomes of bicuspid aortic valve repair associated with proximal aortic aneurysm replacement.From September 2017 to November, 2021, 127 patients underwent bicuspid aortic valve repair with concomitant proximal aneurysm reconstruction. Patient age was 50.6 ± 12.7 years (mean ± standard deviation), male gender was 83%, New York Heart Association Class was 2 (1-2) (median [interquartile range]), and preoperative aortic insufficiency grade was 3 (2-4). Ascending aortic diameter was 50 (46-54) mm, and all patients had ascending aortic replacement. Forty patients had sinus diameters greater than 45 mm, prompting remodeling root procedures. A total of 105 patients had Sievers type 1 valves, 3 patients had type 0, and 7 patients had type 2. A total of 118 patients had primarily right/left fusion, 8 patients had right/nonfusion, and 1 patient had left/nonfusion. Leaflet reconstruction used central leaflet plication and cleft closure, with limited ultrasonic decalcification in 31 patients.Ring size was 23 (21-23) mm, and 26 of 40 root procedures were selective nonfused sinus replacements. Aortic clamp time was 139 (112-170) minutes, and bypass time was 178 (138-217) minutes. Postrepair aortic insufficiency grade was 0 (0-0) (Geometric ring annuloplasty for bicuspid aortic valve repair with proximal aortic aneurysm reconstruction is safe and associated with good early outcomes. Further experience and follow-up will help inform long-term durability.

Background: Patients with cardiogenic shock may require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) prior to durable mechanical circulatory support (dMCS) or heart transplantation (HTx). Methods: We investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult patients with ECMO support as bridge to dMCS or HTx between 1/1/13 and 12/31/20. Results: Of 57 patients who underwent bridging ECMO, 41 (72%) received dMCS (approximately half with biventricular support) and 16 (28%) underwent HTx, 13 (81%) after the 2018 UNOS allocation system change. ECMO → HTx patients had shorter ventilatory time (3.5 vs 7.5 days; p = 0.018), ICU stay (6 vs 18 days; p = 0.001), and less need for inpatient rehabilitation (18.8% vs 57.5%; p = 0.016). The 1-year survival post HTx was 81.3% in the ECMO → HTx group and 86.4% in the ECMO → dMCS group ( p = 0.11). For those patients in the ECMO → dMCS group who did not undergo HTx, 1-year survival was significantly lower, 31.6% ( p = 0.001). Conclusion: Patients on ECMO who undergo HTx, with or without dMCS bridge, have acceptable post-HTx survival. These findings suggest that HTx from ECMO is a viable option for carefully selected patients deemed acceptable to proceed with definitive advanced therapies, especially in the era of the new UNOS allocation system.

In patients with severe cardiogenic shock, temporary mechanical circulatory support has become a viable strategy to bridge patients to heart transplantation. However, end-stage heart failure is often associated with progressive organ dysfunction of the liver or kidney. This can require a dual organ transplant for definitive management (combined heart-liver [HL] or heart-kidney [HK] transplantation). We evaluated temporary mechanical support to bridge patients to HL or HK transplant at a single, high-volume center. All patients who underwent Impella 5.0 placement from January 2014 to October 2018 were identified. From this dataset, patients who underwent placement as a bridge to dual organ transplant were selected, as were those who underwent Impella as a bridge to isolated heart transplant. Over the 5 years of evaluation, 104 patients underwent Impella 5.0 placement. Of these, 14.3% (n = 15) were identified as potential dual organ recipients (11 HK, 4 HL). In total, 80% (12/15) successfully underwent dual organ transplant (8 HK, 4 HL), with a 1-year survival of 100% in both transplanted groups. Among patients undergoing Impella 5.0 placement as a bridge to isolated heart transplant (n = 33), 78.8% (26) were successfully bridged, and 1-year survival was 92% after transplantation. Impella 5.0 is a viable bridge to dual organ transplantation and should be considered as a management strategy in these complex patients at experienced institutions.

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.Methods:We conducted a retrospective, single-center review of patients evaluated for HT between 2012 and 2019 (n = 1,651) and identified those who underwent LB (n = 137) as well as a matched control cohort (n = 160). All biopsies were reviewed by a liver pathologist. Kaplan-Meir curves were used to assess survival. Univariate logistic modeling was used to identify factors predictive of advanced liver fibrosis. Simulation using synthetic data bootstraps was performed to determine the utility of using a score-based approach to trigger LB.Results:We identified 32 (23%) patients with stage 0, 79 (58%) with stage 1-2, and 26 (19%) with stage 3-4/advanced fibrosis. We found no difference in survival at 3 years post-HT based on pre-HT fibrosis stage. The factor most associated with pursuit of LB was abnormal liver parenchyma on ultrasound. We found that a score combining severe tricuspid regurgitation, alcohol use, and low-density lipoprotein improved specificity and reduced the number of LBs required.Conclusions:A score composed of non-invasive factors may help reduce the number of patients who require LB for diagnosis of advanced fibrosis. Additional multicenter studies are needed to validate this score.

Patients with cardiogenic shock may require stabilization with temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) to assess candidacy for definitive therapy, including heart transplantation (HTx) or durable MCS, and/or maintain stability while on the HTx waiting list. We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) vs. Impella [Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA] placement at a high-volume advanced heart failure center. We assessed patients ≥ 18 years who received IABP or Impella support for cardiogenic shock from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021. Ninety patients were included, 59 (65.6%) with IABP and 31 (34.4%) with Impella. Impella was used more frequently in less stable patients, as evidenced by higher inotrope scores, greater ventilator support, and worse renal function. While patients on Impella support had higher in-hospital mortality, despite the worse cardiogenic shock in patients for whom clinicians chose Impella support, over 75% were successfully stabilized to recovery or transplantation. Clinicians elect Impella support over IABP for less stable patients, though a high proportion are successfully stabilized. These findings demonstrate the heterogeneity of the cardiogenic shock patient population and may inform future trials to assess the role of different tMCS devices.

Background Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a major cause of early mortality following heart transplant (HT). The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) subdivides PGD into 3 grades of increasing severity. Most studies have assessed risk factors for PGD without distinguishing between PGD severity grade. We sought to identify recipient, donor and surgical risk factors specifically associated with mild/moderate or severe PGD. Methods We identified 734 heart transplant recipients at our institution transplanted between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2018. PGD was defined according to modified ISHLT criteria. Recipient, donor and surgical variables were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression with mild/moderate or severe PGD as the response. Variables significant in single variable modeling were subject to multivariable analysis via penalized logistic regression. Results PGD occurred in 24% of the cohort (n = 178) of whom 6% (n = 44) had severe PGD. One-year survival was reduced in recipients with severe PGD but not in those with mild or moderate PGD. Multivariable analysis identified 3 recipient factors: prior cardiac surgery, recipient treatment with ACEI/ARB/ARNI plus MRA, recipient treatment with amiodarone plus beta-blocker, and 3 surgical factors: longer ischemic time, more red blood cell transfusions, and more platelet transfusions, that were associated with severe PGD. We developed a clinical risk score, ABCE, which provided acceptable discrimination and calibration for severe PGD. Conclusions Risk factors for mild/moderate PGD were largely distinct from those for severe PGD, suggesting a differing pathophysiology involving several biological pathways. Further research into mechanisms underlying the development of PGD is urgently needed.

Mitral valve repair is infrequently performed in patients undergoing corrective surgery for failed mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in current United States practice. This article describes surgical techniques for reconstructive surgery after failed transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. Nine patients underwent robotic-assisted mitral surgery after failed transcatheter edge-to-edge repair between 2008 and 2020 at a single center. Repair was completed in 88.9% (n = 8) patients, and freedom from2+ mitral regurgitation was 87.5% (n = 7) at a median follow-up of 1.9 years.

Introduction Sleep related breathing disorders, including central sleep apnea (CSA), are frequent in patients with heart failure however, only limited data is known about the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement on OSA and even less about the accuracy of home sleep apnea testing in this population (HSAT). Performing the gold standard polysomnography (PSG) is challenging in this cohort due to logistics, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Extending HSAT to the LVAD population would be beneficial, yet initial tests with the WatchPat® were deemed inconclusive. We decided to evaluate the validity of NOX-T3 device for HSAT compared to PSG. Methods This was a single center prospective, observational study that included LVAD patients who screened positive on the STOP-BANG questionnaire. A sleep study was indicated based on consultation with a sleep physician and a standard PSG was ordered. During the PSG, the NOX-T3 was also applied with the results analyzed and compared after test completion. Results In this preliminary analysis, 4 patients (3 male, 1 female) with a LVAD completed a PSG along with the NOX-T3. The overall severity of sleep apnea indicated by apnea hypopnea index during the PSG and the respiratory event index during the NOX-T3 were similar in this small cohort. In 2 of the 4 patients, the oximetry finding (minutes with oxygen saturations at or below 88%) were also similar during both the PSG and the NOX-T3. Conclusion Based on this preliminary analysis, data obtained with the NOX-T3 system were valid and compared well to the standard of care PSG in patients with a LVAD. We plan to enroll at least 10 patients in this ongoing trial, further studies will be needed to validate these results. Performing HSAT with the NOX-T3 in this unique population if PSG is not feasible would be of significant value given the morbidity of sleep apnea in this population. Support (if any)

Background Survival, functional outcomes, and quality of life after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are ill-defined in elderly patients, and with new-generation devices. Objectives This study sought to evaluate survival, functional outcomes, and quality of life after LVAD in contemporary practice. Methods Adults receiving durable LVADs between January 1, 2010, and March 1, 2020, were identified from the INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support) database. The primary outcome was adjusted survival; secondary outcomes included quality of life rated using a visual analogue scale (where 0 represents “worst health” and 100 “best health”); 6-minute walk distance; stroke; device malfunction; and rehospitalization, stratified by patient age. Median follow-up was 15 months (IQR: 6-32 months). Results The cohort comprised 68.9% (n = 16,808) patients aged 75 years, who were predominantly male (n = 19,119, 78%) and on destination therapy (n = 12,425, 51%). Competing outcomes analysis demonstrated mortality (70% CIs) of 34% (33%-34%), 54% (54%-55%), and 66% (64%-68%) for patients aged 75 years, respectively, which improved during the study in patients aged >75 years. Newer-generation devices were associated with reduced late mortality (HR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.25-0.49). Stroke, device malfunction or thrombosis, and rehospitalizations decreased with increasing age (all P Conclusions In elderly patients, LVADs are associated with increased functional capacity, similar improvements in quality of life, and fewer complications compared with younger patients.

Risk-adjusted survival after late heart re-transplantation may be comparable to primary transplant, but the efficacy of re-transplantation in older candidates is not established. We evaluated outcomes after heart re-transplantation in recipients60 years.We identified 1026 adult patients undergoing isolated heart re-transplantation between 2003 and 2020 from the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Older recipients (60 years, n=177) were compared to younger recipients (≤ 60 years, n=849). Five and ten-year post-transplant survival was estimated using the Kalpan-Meier method and adjusted with multivariable Cox models.Older recipients were more likely to be male and have diabetes or previous malignancies with higher baseline creatinine. They also more frequently required pre-transplant ECMO (11.9% vs. 6.8%, p=0.02) and received re-transplantation due to primary graft failure (13.6% vs. 8.5%, p=0.03). After the transplant, older recipients had a higher incidence of stroke (6.8% vs. 2.6%, p=0.01) and dialysis requirements (20.3% vs. 13.2%) before discharge (both p0.05), and more frequently died from malignancy-related causes (16.3% vs. 3.9%, p0.001). After adjustment, recipient age60 was associated with an increased risk of both 5-year (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.02-2.01, p=0.04) and 10-year mortality (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.20-2.45, p=0.003). Restricted cubic spline showed a non-linear relationship between recipient age and 10-year mortality.Heart re-transplantation in recipients60 years has inferior outcomes compared to younger recipients. Strict patient selection and close follow-up are warranted to ensure the appropriate utilization of donor hearts and to improve long-term outcomes.

Data are limited on outcomes after heart transplantation in patients bridged-to-transplantation (BTT) with a total artificial heart (TAH-t).The UNOS database was used to identify 392 adult patients undergoing heart transplantation after TAH-t BTT between 2005 and 2020. They were compared with 11 014 durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) BTT patients and 22 348 de novo heart transplants (without any durable VAD or TAH-t BTT) during the same period.TAH-t BTT patients had increased dialysis dependence compared to LVAD BTT and de novo transplants (24.7% vs. 2.7% vs. 3.8%) and higher levels of baseline creatinine and total bilirubin (all p .001). After transplantation, TAH-t BTT patients were more likely to die from multiorgan failure in the first year (25.0% vs. 16.1% vs. 16.1%, p = .04). Ten-year survival was inferior in TAH-t BTT patients (TAH-t BTT 53.1%, LVAD BTT 61.8%, De Novo 62.6%, p .001), while 10-year survival conditional on 1-year survival was similar (TAH-t BTT 66.8%, LVAD BTT 68.7%, De Novo 69.0%, all p .20). Among TAH-t BTT patients, predictors of 1-year mortality included higher baseline creatinine and total bilirubin, mechanical ventilation, and cumulative center volume20 cases of heart transplantation involving TAH-t BTT (all p .05).Survival after TAH-t BTT is acceptable, and patients who survive the early postoperative phase experience similar hazards of mortality over time compared to de novo transplant patients and durable LVAD BTT patients.

In Barlow disease, increased repair complexity drives decreased repair rates. We evaluated outcomes of a simplified approach to robotic mitral repair in Barlow disease.A prospective institutional registry with vital-statistics, statewide admissions and echocardiographic follow-up was used to identify 924 consecutive patients undergoing robotic surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) between 2005 and 2020, including 12% (n = 111) with Barlow disease. Freedom frommoderate (2+) MR was analyzed with death as a competing risk and predictors of failure were analyzed using multivariable Cox regression. Median follow-up was 5.5 years (range, 0-15 years).Patients with Barlow disease were younger (median, age 59 years; interquartile range [IQR], 51-67 vs 62; IQR, 54-70 years, P = .05) than patients without Barlow disease. Replacements were performed in 0.9% (n = 1) of patients with Barlow disease and 0.8% (n = 6) of patients without Barlow disease (P = 1). Repairs comprised simple leaflet resection and annuloplasty band in 73.9% (n = 546) of non-Barlow valves versus 12.7% (n = 14) of patients with Barlow disease who required neochordae (53.6%, n = 59), chordal transfer (20%, n = 22), and commissural sutures (37.3%, n = 41), with longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (median 133; IQR, 117-149 minutes vs 119; IQR, 106-142 minutes, P .01). Survival free from greater than moderate MR at 5 years was 92.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.2%-98.1%) in patients with Barlow disease versus 96.0% (95% CI, 93.3%-98.0%) in patients without Barlow disease (P = .40). Predictors of late failure included Barlow disease (hazard ratio, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.7-9.0) and non-Barlow isolated anterior leaflet prolapse (hazard ratio, 5.6; 95% CI, 2.3-13.4).Barlow disease may be reliably and safely repaired with acceptable long-term durability by experienced robotic mitral surgery programs.

The management of biventricular heart failure presents a significant challenge. Recently, percutaneous options for univentricular support that may be combined to provide full biventricular support have come to market. These support configurations allow patients to be bridged to recovery, durable mechanical circulatory support, or to transplantation. Due to the minimally invasive nature of these systems, patients may be rapidly extubated, and some may be mobilized with full biventricular support. Varied approaches for implementation of these temporary support systems exist, with some of the most common techniques presented here.

In advanced heart failure, orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) remains the standard for definitive treatment. Patients with heart failure and concomitant pulmonary hypertension (PH) represent a challenging subgroup, with poor outcomes following OHT. Recently, Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) devices have been utilized as a bridge to OHT for these patients. Patients with MCS devices who underwent OHT were evaluated at a single center. Patients were stratified into three groups, depending on baseline pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Groups were analyzed for outcomes. One hundred twenty three patients were identified. Of these, 39 had a PVR ≤1.6, 50 had a PVR >1.6 and ≤ 3, and 34 had a PVR >3. Demographics were generally similar. Tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) was significantly higher among patients with worse baseline PVR (p=0.016). Survival was similar at both one and three years. On subsequent analysis, moderate/severe TR was associated with worse survival. MCS implantation as a bridge to OHT has good one and three-year outcomes among patients with increasing pre-MCS PVR. However, patients with severe PH prior to MCS have an increased rate of TR. Among these patients, moderate-severe TR after OHT has an associated risk of early death.

Acutely decompensated heart failure presents a complicated challenge. Established temporary support measures have significant adverse effects. A minimally invasive temporary left ventricular assist device (LVAD), the Impella 5.0 (Abiomed, Danvers, MA), has been developed to support these patients.Patients with acutely decompensated heart failure in whom medical management had failed and who required additional support using an Impella 5.0 device were evaluated from January 2014 to September 2018 at a single center in a retrospective manner using a prospectively maintained database. Patients were treated with the device as a bridge to recovery (BTR; n = 30), bridge to durable device (BTDD; n = 23), or bridge to transplantation (BTT; n = 47). All devices were placed using an axillary artery approach. Demographic features and outcomes were evaluated for each group and compared.A total of 100 patients underwent insertion of an axillary Impella 5.0 LVAD. Patients had an average age of 56.7 ± 13.2 years, were predominantly male (84%), and had a severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (average 16%), and most had an Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profile 1 (57%) or 2 (33%) score. When divided into groups, there was no difference in age or INTERMACS score, but a statistical difference was noted in baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (20%, 14%, 15%) and creatinine level (1.0, 2.0, 1.6), in the BTR, BTDD, or BTT group, respectively (all P.05). Survival was 64% overall, and it was 50%, 48%, and 81% for BTR, BTDD, and BTT, respectively (P = .007). Survival improved during this experience and was 90% overall in the most recent 30 patients.Use of this minimally invasive LVAD system is an attractive strategy to support patients with acute decompensated heart failure to recovery, durable LVAD, or heart transplantation.

The COVID-19 pandemic initially brought forth considerable challenges to the field of heart transplantation. To prevent the spread of the virus and protect immunocompromised recipients, our center made the following modifications to post-transplant outpatient management: eliminating early coronary angiograms, video visits for postoperative months 7, 9, and 11, and home blood draws for immunosuppression adjustments. To assess if these changes have impacted patient outcomes, the current study examines 1-year outcomes for patients transplanted during the pandemic. Between March and September 2020, we assessed 50 heart transplant patients transplanted during the pandemic. These patients were compared to patients who were transplanted during the same months between 2011 and 2019 (n = 482). Endpoints included subsequent 1-year survival, freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy, any-treated rejection, acute cellular rejection, antibody-mediated rejection, nonfatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE), and hospital and ICU length of stay. Patients transplanted during the pandemic had similar 1-year endpoints compared to those of patients transplanted from years prior apart from 1-year freedom from NF-MACE which was significantly higher for patients transplanted during the pandemic. Despite necessary changes being made to outpatient management of heart transplant recipients, heart transplantation continues to be safe and effective with similar 1-year outcomes to years prior.

This study was designed to evaluate the association of surgical training on outcomes following orthotopic heart transplantation in all levels of cardiothoracic surgery fellows.A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on all heart transplants at a single institution from 2011 to 2020. Transplants performed using organ preservation systems (n = 10) or with significant missing data were excluded (n = 37), resulting in 154 transplants performed by faculty surgeons and 799 total transplants performed by first-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education fellows (n = 73), second-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education fellows (n = 124), or non-Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education fellows (n = 602) in a transplantation and mechanical circulatory support fellowship. Primary outcome was warm ischemic time analyzed by year of fellowship. Additional secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, primary graft dysfunction, reoperation for bleeding, and 5-year survival. Median follow-up was 3 years (interquartile range [IQR], 1.0-5.5 years) and 100% complete.The median number of transplants performed was 30 (IQR, 19.5-51.8) during the study period performed by 22 trainees. Baseline transplant characteristics performed were similar amongst the trainee years, although the first-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education fellows approached significantly fewer re-do transplants (1.4% vs 8.1% and 4.3%; P = .07). Warm ischemic time was lower in the first-year fellows (49 minutes; IQR, 42-63 minutes) versus second-year fellows (56.5 minutes; IQR, 45.5-69 minutes) and mechanical circulatory support/transplant fellows (56 minutes; IQR, 46-67 minutes) (P = .028). Crossclamp time was also lower in the first-year fellows than in second-year and mechanical circulatory support/transplant fellows, respectively (79 minutes; IQR, 65-100 minutes vs 147 minutes; IQR, 125-176 minutes and 143 minutes; IQR, 119-175 minutes) (P = .008). Secondary outcomes, including 30-day mortality (4.1% [n = 3] vs 2.4% [n = 3] vs 2.7% [n = 16]; P = .76), primary graft dysfunction (5.5% [n = 4] vs 4.0% [n = 5] vs 4.3% [n = 26]; P = .88), reoperation for bleeding (2.7% [n = 2] vs 4.8% [n = 6] vs 4.2% [n = 25]; P = .78), and 5-year survival (82.2%; 95% CI, 66.7%-84.9% vs 77.3%; 95% CI, 66.7%-84.9% vs 79.3%; 95% CI, 74.9%-83.1%; P = .84) were comparable in all groups.This cohort of nearly 800 operations demonstrates that orthotopic heart transplantation may be performed by cardiac fellowship trainees all levels of training with acceptable short- and long-term outcomes.

National registry data show wide variability in degenerative mitral repair rates and infrequent use of intraoperative repair revision to eliminate residual mitral regurgitation (MR). The consequence of uncorrected mild residual MR is also not clear. We identified factors associated with intraoperative revision of degenerative mitral repair and evaluated long-term effects of intraoperative mild residual MR.A prospective institutional registry of 858 patients with degenerative MR undergoing robotic mitral surgery was linked to statewide databases. Univariate logistic regression identified factors associated with intraoperative repair revision. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and adjusted with Cox regression. Late freedom from more-than-moderate MR or reintervention was estimated with death as a competing risk.Repair rate was 99.3%. Repair was revised intraoperatively in 19 patients and was associated with anterior or bileaflet prolapse, adjunctive repair techniques, and annuloplasty band size (all P .05). Intraoperative repair revision did not result in increased postoperative complications. Intraoperative mild residual MR (n = 111) was independently associated with inferior 8-year survival (hazard ratio, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.33-6.23), worse freedom from more than moderate MR (hazard ratio, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.60-7.00), and worse freedom from mitral reintervention (hazard ratio, 6.40; 95% CI, 2.19-18.72) (all P .01).A near 100% repair rate with acceptable durability may be achieved safely with intraoperative revision of postrepair residual MR. Mild residual MR was independently associated with reduced survival, worse freedom from more-than-moderate MR, and worse freedom from mitral reintervention at 8-year follow-up.

Heart donation after circulatory death was recently reintroduced in the United States with hopes of increasing donor heart availability. We examined its national use and outcomes.The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify validated adult patients undergoing heart transplantation using donation after circulatory death donors (n = 266) and donation after brain death donors (n = 5998) between December 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, after excluding heart-lung transplants. Propensity score matching was used to create more balanced groups for comparison.The monthly percentage of donation after circulatory death heart transplant increased from 2.5% in December 2019 to 6.8% in December 2021 (P .001). Twenty-two centers performed donation after circulatory death heart transplants, ranging from 1 to 75 transplants per center. Four centers performed 70% of the national volume. Recipients of donation after circulatory death hearts were more likely to be clinically stable (80.4% vs 41.1% in status 3-6, P .001), to have type O blood (58.3% vs 39.9%, P .001), and to wait longer after listing (55, interquartile range, 15-180 days vs 32, interquartile range, 9-160 days, P = .003). Six-month survival was 92.1% (95% confidence interval, 91.3-92.8) after donation after brain death heart transplants and 92.6% (95% confidence interval, 88.1-95.4) after donation after circulatory death heart transplants (hazard ratio, 0.94, 95% confidence interval, 0.57-1.54, P = .79). Outcomes in propensity-matched patients were similar except for higher rates of treated acute rejection in donation after circulatory death transplants before discharge (14.4% vs 8.8%, P = .01). In donation after circulatory death heart recipients, outcomes did not differ based on the procurement technique (normothermic regional perfusion vs direct procurement and perfusion).Heart transplantation with donation after circulatory death donors has short-term survival comparable to donation after brain death transplants. Broader implementation could substantially increase donor organ availability.

Single-center studies have demonstrated excellent results for the Ross procedure in children. We aimed to evaluate national variation in clinical outcomes using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database.The database was used to identify 2805 children undergoing the Ross procedure from 2000 through 2018, comprising 163 neonates (30 days, 5.8%), 448 infants (30-365 days, 16.0%), 1444 children (1-12 years, 51.5%), and 750 teenagers (13-17 years, 26.7%). Centers were divided into terciles by procedural volume. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of a composite outcome of operative mortality, neurologic deficit, or renal failure requiring dialysis.Neonates and infants were more likely to present with aortic stenosis than children and teenagers (61.7% [n = 377] vs 34.6% [n = 760]; P.01) and have risk factors including preoperative shock (9.2% [n = 56] vs 0.4% [n = 8]; P.01). Operative mortality was 24.1% (n = 39) in neonates, 11.2% (n = 50) in infants, 1.5% (n = 21) in children , and 0.8% (n = 6) in teenagers (P.01). Independent predictors of the composite outcome in children aged1 year included neonatal age (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% CI, 1.9-4.8), low-volume center (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-3.9), and procedure year (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9 per 5 years). In children aged ≥1 year, no association was found between center volume, procedure year, and outcome.The Ross procedure is being performed with low mortality in children aged ≥1 year throughout North America. High-volume centers have improved outcomes in children aged1 year, who have different anatomic characteristics and risk profiles.

Aortic root dilation and thoracic aortic aneurysms are relatively rare in young and healthy patient populations. However, a number of observed incidental cases regarding young males and testosterone use raises suspicion of a potential risk factor for aortic root dilation. The authors’ patient, a healthy 40-year-old man with a significant history of testosterone use who developed a massively dilated aortic root, is sufficiently alarming to report. Notwithstanding anecdotal cases, there exists a well-known association between elite strength athletes and aortic root dilation. Nevertheless, very little clinical research exists on the relationship between testosterone use and aortic root dilation and/or thoracic aortic aneurysms. Furthermore, a small number of animal studies showed a relationship between testosterone and vascular dilation, particularly the aorta. Although testosterone may play a role in the development of aortic pathologies, further research is necessary to clarify the possible relationship if cases such as these are to be prevented.