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Anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right pulmonary artery is an extremely rare coronary anomaly out of the group of anomalous coronary arteries arising from the pulmonary artery. We present the case of a 27-year-old male, in whom the diagnosis of an anomalous left circumflex coronary artery from the pulmonary artery was made after sudden cardiac arrest. The diagnosis was confirmed by multimodal imaging and the patient underwent successful surgical correction. Abnormal origins of a coronary artery may become symptomatic later in life and may occur as an isolated cardiac malformation. Due to a potentially unfavorable clinical course, surgical correction should be considered as soon as a diagnosis is made.

Venlafaxine is a serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor prescribed as an antidepressant. Overdose clinically manifests with neurological, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal abnormalities based on, amongst others, serotonin syndrome and can be life-threatening due to cardiovascular collapse. Besides immediate decontamination via gastric lavage and inhibition of enteral absorption through active charcoal, successful hemadsorption with CytoSorb® has been reported. We present the case of a 17-year-old female who required extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for cardiovascular collapse as a result of life-threatening venlafaxine intoxication. Serial serum blood concentrations of venlafaxine/desmethylvenlafaxine on admission at a tertiary hospital (approx. 24 h after ingestion) and subsequently 6 h and 18 h thereafter, as well as on days 2 and 4, were measured. CytoSorb® was initiated 6 h after admission and changed three times over 72 h. The initial blood concentration of venlafaxine/desmethylvenlafaxine was 53.52 µmol/l. After 6 h, it declined to 30.7 µmol/l and CytoSorb® was initiated at this point. After 12 h of hemadsorption, the blood level decreased to 9.6 µmol/l. On day 2, it was down to 7.17 µmol/l and decreased further to 3.74 µmol/l. Additional continuous renal replacement therapy using CVVHD was implemented on day 5. The combination of hemadsorption, besides traditional decontamination strategies along maximal organ supportive therapy with ECLS, resulted in the intact neurological survival of the highest venlafaxine intoxication reported in the literature to date. Hemadsorption with CytoSorb® might help to reduce blood serum levels of venlafaxine. Swift clearance of toxic blood levels may support cardiovascular recovery after life-threatening intoxications.

International audience; This document represents the first update of the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia Fellowship Curriculum of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. After obtaining feedback from exit interviews with fellows in training, graduate fellows, and program directors, 2 modified online Delphi procedures with questionnaires were conducted. A consensus was reached when two-thirds of responding committee members gave green or yellow ratings on a traffic light system, and >70% indicated strong agreement or agreement on a 5-point Likert scale. The new regulations include the following: (1) more flexibility in the fellows` rotation, as long as the total number of days, rotations, and cases are completed during the training year; (2) recommendation for strict compliance with national working-time guidelines; (3) no extension of fellowship training to compensate for annual and/or sick leave, unless the required minimum number of cases and rotations are not reached; (4) interruption of fellowship training for >12 months is allowed for personal or medical reasons; (5) introduction of a checklist for quantitative assessment of standard clinical skills; (6) recommendations for a uniform structure of exit interviews; (7) possibility of a 1-month training rotation in a postanesthesia care unit instead of an intensive care unit; and (8) provided all other requirements have been met, the allowance of progression from the basic training year to the advanced fellowship training year without first passing the transesophageal echocardiography examination.

Secondary mitral valve regurgitation is a frequent consequence of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe heart failure. The management of this disease can be challenging since it often culminates in refractory pulmonary edema and multi-organ failure. We present the case of a 50-year-old male who was admitted in cardiogenic shock following myocardial infarction. After successful revascularization, percutaneous mitral valve repair using the MitraClip® device enabled weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation followed by the implantation of a left ventricular assist device as bridge to transplant.

Aims This short communication aims to review the treatment of cardiogenic shock in patients with yew poisoning based on two case reports from our institution, focusing on the use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Methods and results We report two cases of Taxus baccata poisoning treated with ECLS at our institution and review the literature based on a search in PubMed and Google Scholar on the topic of yew poisoning and ECLS. All cases were combined for analysis of demographics, ECLS therapy, and outcome. Case 1: A 35‐year‐old woman developed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia followed by cardiovascular arrest 5 h after orally ingesting a handful of yew needles. Successful resuscitation required ECLS for 72 h due to ongoing cardiac arrhythmias and cardiogenic shock. The patient left the hospital without neurological sequelae after 10 days. Case 2: A 30‐year‐old woman developed refractory cardiac arrhythmias and circulatory arrest. Resuscitation included ECLS for 71 h. T. baccata needles found by gastroscopy confirmed the diagnosis. The patient had no neurologic deficits and was transferred to psychiatry after 11 days. Review of the literature: Nine case reports were found and analysed along with our two cases. Five out of the 11 (45%) patients were female. Median (range) age was 28 (19–46) years. T. baccata needles were ingested with a suicidal intention in all patients. Median (range) duration of ECLS was 70 h (24–120 h). Eight (73%) patients had full neurological recovery. Conclusions Yew poisoning is a differential diagnosis in young psychiatric patients presenting with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and cardiogenic shock. A characteristic cardiac contraction pattern in echocardiography may present a diagnostic clue. The early use of ECLS is a valuable bridge to recovery in most of these patients.

Purpose. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the haemodynamic adverse effects of clonidine and dexmedetomidine in critically ill patients after cardiac surgery. Methods. 2769 patients were screened during the 30-month study period. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and norepinephrine requirements were assessed 3-hourly during the first 12 hours of the continuous drug infusion. Results are given as median (interquartile range) or numbers (percentages). Results. Patients receiving clonidine (n = 193) were younger (66 (57–73) vs 70 (63–77) years, p=0.003) and had a lower SAPS II (35 (27–48) vs 41 (31–54), p=0.008) compared with patients receiving dexmedetomidine (n = 141). At the start of the drug infusion, HR (90 (75–100) vs 90 (80–105) bpm, p=0.028), MAP (70 (65–80) vs 70 (65–75) mmHg, p=0.093), and norepinephrine (0.05 (0.00–0.11) vs 0.12 (0.03–0.19) mcg/kg/min, p<0.001) were recorded in patients with clonidine and dexmedetomidine. Bradycardia (HR p=0.51). Between baseline and 12 hours, norepinephrine remained stable in the clonidine group (0.00 (−0.04–0.02) mcg/kg/min) and decreased in the dexmedetomidine group (−0.03 (−0.10–0.02) mcg/kg/min, p=0.007). Conclusions. Dexmedetomidine and the low-cost drug clonidine can both be used safely in selected patients after cardiac surgery.

Secondary mitral valve regurgitation is a frequent consequence of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe heart failure. The management of this disease can be challenging since it often culminates in refractory pulmonary edema and multi-organ failure. We present the case of a 50-year-old male who was admitted in cardiogenic shock following myocardial infarction. After successful revascularization, percutaneous mitral valve repair using the MitraClip

International audience; Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is a subspecialty of cardiac and pediatric anesthesiology dedicated to the perioperative care of patients with congenital heart disease. Members of the Congenital and Education Subcommittees of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) agreed on the necessity to develop an EACTAIC pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship curriculum. This manuscript represents a consensus on the composition and the design of the EACTAIC Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship program. This curriculum provides a basis for the training of future pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists by clearly defining the theoretical and practical requirements for fellows and host centers.

Introduction: In the 20 years since its introduction to the palette of intravenous hemodynamic therapies, the inodilator levosimendan has established itself as a valuable asset for the management of acute decompensated heart failure. Its pharmacology is notable for delivering inotropy via calcium sensitization without an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption. Areas covered: Experience with levosimendan has led to its applications expanding into perioperative hemodynamic support and various critical care settings, as well as an array of situations associated with acutely decompensated heart failure, such as right ventricular failure, cardiogenic shock with multi-organ dysfunction, and cardio-renal syndrome. Evidence suggests that levosimendan may be preferable to milrinone for patients in cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery or for weaning from extracorporeal life support and may be superior to dobutamine in terms of short-term survival, especially in patients on beta-blockers. Positive effects on kidney function have been noted, further differentiating levosimendan from catecholamines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Expert opinion:Levosimendan can be a valuable resource in the treatment of acute cardiac dysfunction, especially in the presence of beta-blockers or ischemic cardiomyopathy. When attention is given to avoiding or correcting hypovolemia and hypokalemia, an early use of the drug in the treatment algorithm is preferred.

Delirium in the general intensive care unit (ICU) population is common, associated with adverse outcomes and well studied. However, knowledge on delirium in the increasing number of ICU patients with malignancy is scarce. The aim was to assess the frequency of delirium and its impact on resource utilizations and outcomes in ICU patients with malignancy. This retrospective, single-center longitudinal cohort study included all patients with malignancy admitted to ICUs of a University Hospital during one year. Delirium was diagnosed by an Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) score ≥ 4. Of 488 ICU patients with malignancy, 176/488 (36%) developed delirium. Delirious patients were older (66 [55–72] vs. 61 [51–69] years, p = 0.001), had higher SAPS II (41 [27–68] vs. 24 [17–32], p p p p p p p p p p p = 0.074). In conclusion, delirium was a frequent complication in ICU patients with malignancy independently associated with high resource utilizations, however, it was not independently associated with in-hospital mortality.

Background: Whereas delirium in the general intensive care unit (ICU) population is common and well studied, knowledge on ICU delirium in patients with malignancy is scarce. The aim was to assess the frequency of delirium and its impact on resource utilizations and outcomes in ICU patients with malignancy.Methods: This retrospective, single-center longitudinal cohort study included all patients with malignancy admitted to ICUs of a University Hospital during one year. Delirium was diagnosed by an Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) score ≥ 4. Groups were compared with Fisher’s exact and Mann-Whitney U tests. Multivariate analysis included binary logistic regression, Cox regression and multiple linear regression. Results are given as number (percentage; confidence interval (CI)) and median (interquartile range).Results: Of 488 ICU patients with malignancy, 176/488 (36%) developed delirium. Frequencies were high in patients with hepatic (13/21 [62%]; 95% CI 41-82%), lung (29/65 [45%]; 95% CI 33-56%) and colorectal malignancies (15/37 [41%]; 95% CI 24-56%). Delirious patients were older (66 [55-72] vs 61 [51-69] years, p = 0.001), had higher SAPS II (41 [27-68] vs 24 [17-32], p < 0.001) and more frequently sepsis (26/176 [15%] vs 6/312 [1.9%], p < 0.001) and / or shock (30/176 [6.1%] vs 6/312 [1.9%], p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, delirium was independently associated with lower discharge home (OR [95% CI] 0.366 [0.236-0.567], p < 0.001), longer ICU (HR [95% CI] 0.295 [0.234-0.371], p < 0.001) and hospital length of stay (HR [95% CI] 0.619 [0.500-0.765], p < 0.001), longer mechanical ventilation (HR [95% CI] 0.401 [0.282-0.572], p < 0.001), higher ICU nursing workload (B [95% CI] 1.917 [1.665-2.206], p < 0.001) and ICU (B [95% CI] 2.077 [1.811-2.382], p < 0.001) and total costs (B [95% CI] 1.442 [1.301-1.597], p < 0.001). However, delirium was not independently associated with in-hospital mortality (OR [95% CI] 2.263 [0.925-5.537], p = 0.074).Conclusions: In ICU patients with malignancy, delirium was a frequent complication independently associated with high resource utilizations, however, it was not independently associated with in-hospital mortality.

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch), Objective: From case reports, haloperidol administration has been associated with QTc prolongation, torsades de pointes, and sudden cardiac death. In a vulnerable population of critically ill patients after cardiac surgery, however, it is unclear whether haloperidol administration affects the QTc interval. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the effect of haloperidol in low doses on this interval. Method: This retrospective cohort study was performed on a cardio-surgical intensive care unit (ICU), screened 2,216 patients and eventually included 68 patients with delirium managed with oral and intravenous haloperidol. In this retrospective analysis, electrocardiograms were taken prior and within 24 h after haloperidol administration. The effect of haloperidol on QTc was determined with a Person correlation, and inter-group differences were measured with new long QT comparisons. Results: In total, 68 patients were included, the median age was 71 (64–79) years and predominantly male (77%). Haloperidol administration followed ICU admission by three days and the cumulative dose was 4 (2–9) mg. As a result, haloperidol administration did not affect the QTc (r = 0.144, p = 0.23). In total, 31% (21/68 patients) had a long QT before and 27.9% (19/68 patients) after haloperidol administration. Only 12% (8/68 patients) developed a newly onset long QT. These patients were not different in the route of administration, cumulative haloperidol doses, comorbidities, laboratory findings, or medications. Significance of results: These results indicated that low-dose intravenous haloperidol was safe and not clinically relevant for the development of a newly onset long QT syndrome or adverse outcomes and support recent findings inside and outside the ICU setting.

On 3 December 1967, Christiaan Barnard performed the first heart transplantation in the world at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. In the succeeding months, heart transplantations in the USA, Asia and Europe followed. On 14 April 1969,Aring;ke Senning successfully accomplished the first heart transplantation in Switzerland at the former Cantonal Hospital in Zurich. In the summer of 1969, he undertook a second heart transplantation. Although the surgical procedure went well technically, both patients died within weeks to months after transplantation. Causes of death were infection in the first and rejection in the second patient. Senningrsquo;s colleagues around the world had similar experiences. Survival after heart transplantation was unacceptably low. The heart transplant community recognised the lack of knowledge about immunological processes and appropriate immunosuppressive regimens as underlying reason for the early deaths. Most transplant centres decided to refrain from heart transplantation until sufficient immunological insight became available. After the introduction of the new immunosuppressive drug ciclosporin into the clinic and the availability of tools to monitor rejection in the early 1980s, heart transplant programmes were restarted all over the world. The legal recognition of brain death allowed procurement of donor hearts without exposure to warm ischaemia, and the principle of cold storage enabled prolongation of ischaemia time and acceptance of donors in distant hospitals, resulting in enlargement of the donor pool. In Switzerland, Marko Turina resumed heart transplantation in 1985 at Senningrsquo;s former workplace in Zurich. The number of heart transplants in Switzerland and in the world grew rapidly because the outcome markedly improved. Particularly over the long-term, survival in Zurich surpassed the outcome worldwide. Zurich created internationally recognised milestones such as transplantation of patients with grown-up congenital heart disease, the implementation of the bicaval instead of the right atrial anastomosis during the transplant procedure and the dual transplantation of one heart. Since the middle of the 1990s, however, the number of heart transplants has plateaued, mainly because of donor shortage. The current era is characterised by efforts to increase the number of donors. The utilisation of marginal donors, the change from informed to presumed consent for organ donation and donation after cardiocirculatory-determined death have been proposed to augment the donor pool.

AIM OF THE STUDY Delirium is a frequent intensive care unit (ICU) complication, affecting 26% to 80% of ICU patients, often with serious consequences. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, costs and benefits of following a standardised multiprofessional, multicomponent delirium guideline on eight outcomes: delirium prevalence and duration, lengths of stay in ICU and hospital, in-hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, and cost and nursing hours per case. It also aimed to explore the associations of delirium with length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay and duration of mechanical ventilation. METHODS This retrospective cohort study used a pre-post design. ICU patients in an historical control group (n = 1608) who received standard ICU care were compared with a postintervention group (n = 1684) who received standardised delirium management – delirium risk identification, preventive measures, screening and treatment – with regard to eight outcomes. The delirium management guideline was developed and implemented in 2012 by a group of experts from the study hospital. As appropriate, descriptive statistics and multivariate, multilevel models were used to compare the two groups and to explore the association between delirium occurrence and the selected outcomes. RESULTS Twelve percent of the 1608 historical controls and 20% of the 1684 postintervention patients were diagnosed with delirium according to the ICD-10 delirium diagnosis codes. Patients being treated for heart disease, and those with septic shock, ARDS, renal insufficiency (acute or chronic), older age and higher numbers of comorbidities were significantly more likely to develop delirium during their stay. Multivariate models comparing the historical controls with the post intervention group indicated significant differences in delirium period prevalence (odds ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38–2.06; p

Background Reconstructive vascular surgery has become increasingly common. Vascular graft infections (VGIs) are serious complications, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Previously described risk factors for VGIs include groin incisions, wound infections, and comorbidities. We aimed to identify modifiable predictors for VGIs as targets for infection prevention strategies. Methods Participants of the prospective Vascular Graft Infection Cohort (VASGRA) with surgery between 2013 and 2017 were included. The observation time was calculated from surgery until a confirmed VGI or the last follow-up. Variables were assessed by infection status, using non-parametric tests. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for demographic factors, were applied to assess risk factors for a VGI. Results A total of 438 predominantly male (83.1%) patients with a median age of 71 years (interquartile range [IQR] 63 – 76) contributed to 554 person years of follow-up. Thereof, 39 (8.9%) developed a VGI, amounting to an incidence rate of 7.0/100 person years. We found incisional surgical site infections (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 10.09, 95% CI 2.88 – 35.34); hemorrhage (aHR 4.92, 1.28–18.94); renal insufficiency (aHR 4.85, 1.20 – 19.61); inadequate perioperative prophylaxis in patients with an established antibiotic treatment, compared to the additional application of perioperative prophylaxis (aHR 2.87, 95% CI 1.17 – 7.05); and procedure time increases of 1-hour intervals (aHR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08 – 1.39) to be risk factors for VGIs. Conclusions We identified procedure time; inadequate perioperative prophylaxis, especially among patients with an established antibiotic treatment; and several postsurgical infectious and non-infectious complications as modifiable, predictive factors for VGIs and, therefore, as keys to improved surveillance programs and prevention strategies. Clinical Trials Registration NCT01821664

This special article summarizes the design and certification process of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (EACTA) Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (CTVA) Fellowship Program.The CTVA fellowship training includes a two-year curriculum at an EACTA-accredited educational facility. Before fellows are accepted into the program, they must meet a number of requirements, including evidence of a valid license to practice medicine, a specialist degree examination in anesthesiology, and appropriate language skills as required in the host centers. The CVTA Fellowship Program has 2 sequential and complementary levels of training-both with a modular structure that allows for individual planning and also takes into account the differing national healthcare needs and requirements of the 36 countries represented in EACTA. The basic training period focuses on the anesthetic management of patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery and related procedures. The advanced training period is intended to deepen and to extend the clinical and nontechnical skills that fellows have acquired during the basic training.The goal of the EACTA fellowship is to produce highly trained and competent perioperative physicians who are able to care for patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background Delirium is a well-known complication in cardiac surgery and intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, in many other settings its prevalence and clinical consequences are understudied. The aims of this study were: (1) To assess delirium prevalence in a large, diverse cohort of acute care patients classified as either at risk or not at risk for delirium; (2) To compare these two groups according to defined indicators; and (3) To compare delirious with non-delirious patients regarding hospital mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay, nursing hours and cost per case. Methods This cohort study was performed in a Swiss university hospital following implementation of a delirium management guideline. After excluding patients aged

The Ross operation is the operation of choice for children and young adults who require aortic valve replacement. Although the allograft does not require anticoagulation and has a superior hemodynamic profile compared to other valve substitutes, concerns regarding allograft and autograft longevity have risen in the last decade. We present a case illustrating an alternative operative technique for patients with failed Ross procedure in which the autograft is recycled in order to avoid a two-allograft replacement.

Dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenergic agonist, can be used to perform mild to moderate sedation in critically ill patients. In this case series, 9 cardiovascular intensive care unit patients with hyperthermia during dexmedetomidine administration, suggestive of drug fever, are presented. Hyperthermia (>38.5°C) occurred 6 (4-10) hours (median [interquartile range]) after dexmedetomidine initiation at a dose of 1.0 (0.8-1.3) μg/kg/h and was resolved 3 (1-8) hours after discontinuation of dexmedetomidine. All patients were screened for infectious and noninfectious causes of hyperthermia, and the findings were analyzed by 2 adverse drug reaction (ADR) assessment methods-the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO-UMC) Causality Assessment and the Naranjo ADR scale. This resulted in a "probable" ADR in all 9 patients (WHO) and a "probable" and "possible" ADR in 1 and 8 patients (Naranjo), respectively. This case series supports published case reports, suggesting that dexmedetomidine administration may be associated with the occurrence of clinically relevant hyperthermia. The underlying mechanisms and risk factors are uncertain and require further research.

Purpose Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). In recent decades, refined surgical PEA technique using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has achieved significant reduction in mortality. Hemodilution generated by crystalloid priming solution in heart surgery causes a number of disadvantages, and no standard for PEA is described. We aim to assess the outcome of CTEPH patients after protocol change for CPB with adding 5% albumin to priming solution during PEA. Methods Since changing the CPB protocol in 2018, 28 CTEPH patients were retrospectively compared to a historical control by 1:1 propensity score matching gender, age, PVR (pulmonary vascular resistance) before PEA surgery. The resulting two cohort groups were analysed for intraoperative fluid balance, vasoactive inotropic score (VIS), operative time and their influence on outcome. Regression models of hospitalization, ICU (intensive care unit) and intubation time considered the total blood volume balance as mediator of the effect of the new protocol. Results Lower CPB-balance (p Conclusion Priming protocol for CPB with addition of 5% albumin had a beneficial effect on the CPB balance and improved postoperative outcome after PEA for CTEPH patients.

Background Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is the recommended treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib) in critically ill patients, despite lacking data showing hemodynamic benefits of restoring sinus rhythm in this setting. The aim of this study was to assess the hemodynamic effect of successful ECV in a cohort of hemodynamically unstable critically ill patients. Methods and results This study included 66 successful ECV performed in hemodynamically unstable critically ill patients with new-onset AFib. The primary outcome was the requirement of norepinephrine and inotropes 6 h after successful ECV in relation to baseline. Baseline norepinephrine dose was 0.19 ± 0.02 μg/kg/min, and 67% of patients were treated with positive inotropic drugs. Six hours after ECV, 33 patients (50%) were considered hemodynamic non-responders. Overall, the mean norepinephrine dose at 6 h was 0.17 ± 0.02 μg/kg/min (P = 0.051 compared to baseline) and 61% of patients were on inotropes (P = 0.13 compared to baseline). During the 6-hour period after ECV the mean norepinephrine dose temporary increased to 0.20 ± 0.02 μg/kg/min (P = 0.033 compared to baseline). Conclusions ECV is associated with a large proportion of hemodynamic non-responders and a numerically modest, non-significant hemodynamic improvement in critically ill patients with new-onset AFib.

Both acute and advanced heart failure are an increasing threat in term of survival, quality of life and socio-economical burdens. Paradoxically, the use of successful treatments for chronic heart failure can prolong life but—per definition—causes the rise in age of patients experiencing acute decompensations, since nothing at the moment helps avoiding an acute or final stage in the elderly population. To complicate the picture, acute heart failure syndromes are a collection of symptoms, signs and markers, with different aetiologies and different courses, also due to overlapping morbidities and to the plethora of chronic medications. The palette of cardio-and vasoactive drugs used in the hospitalization phase to stabilize the patient’s hemodynamic is scarce and even scarcer is the evidence for the agents commonly used in the practice (e.g. catecholamines). The pipeline in this field is poor and the clinical development chronically unsuccessful. Recent set backs in expected clinical trials for new agents in acute heart failure (AHF) (omecamtiv, serelaxine, ularitide) left a field desolately empty, where only few drugs have been approved for clinical use, for example, levosimendan and nesiritide. In this consensus opinion paper, experts from 26 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, U.K. and Ukraine) analyse the situation in details also by help of artificial intelligence applied to bibliographic searches, try to distil some lesson-learned to avoid that future projects would make the same mistakes as in the past and recommend how to lead a successful development project in this field in dire need of new agents., SCOPUS: re.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Aims of the study An extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system (ECMO), as a bridge to either recovery, a ventricular assist device (VAD), or heart or lung transplantation, may be the only lifesaving option for critically ill patients suffering from refractory cardiac, respiratory or combined cardiopulmonary failure. As peripheral hospitals may not offer ECMO treatment, tertiary care centres provide specialised ECMO teams for on-site implantation and subsequent patient transfer on ECMO to the tertiary hospital. This study reports the results of the largest ECMO transportation programme in Switzerland and describes its feasibility and safety. Methods Patients transported on ECMO by our mobile ECMO team to our tertiary centre between 1 September 2009 and 31 December, 2016 underwent retrospective analysis. Implantation was performed by our specialised ECMO team (primary transport) or by the medical staff of the referring hospital (secondary transport) with subsequent transfer to our institution. Type of ECMO, transport data, patient baseline characteristics, operative variables and postoperative outcomes including complications and mortality were collected from medical records. Results Fifty-eight patients were included (three patients excluded: one repatriation, two with incomplete medical records). Thirty-five patients (60%) received veno-venous, 22 (38%) veno-arterial and one patient (2%) veno-venoarterial ECMO. Forty-nine (84%) patients underwent primary and nine (16%) secondary transport. Thirty-five (60%) patients were transferred by helicopter and 23 (40%) by ambulance, with median distances of 38.1 (13n225) km and 21 (3-71) km respectively. No clinical or technical complications occurred during transportation. During hospitalisation, three patients had ECMO-associated complications (two compartment syndrome of lower limb, one haemothorax after central ECMO upgrade). Median days on ECMO was 8 (l1n49) and median days in hospital was 17 (l1n122). ECMO weaning was successful in 41 patients (71%), on-transport survival was 100%, 40 patients survived to discharge (69%), and overall survival was 67% (39 patients) at a median follow-up of 58 days (l1n1441). Cumulative survival was significantly affected by cardiogenic shock vs. ARDS (p = 0.001), veno-arterial and veno-venoarterial vs. veno-venous ECMO (p = 0.001) and after secondary vs. primary transport (p l0.001). The ECMO weaning rate was significantly lower after secondary transfer (22%, two patients, both vaECMO) vs. primary transfer (80%, p = 0.002, 39 patients of which 35 (71%) had vvECMO). Conclusions The first results of our ECMO transportation programme show its feasibility, safety and efficacy without on-site implant or on-transport complications or mortality. The favourable early survival may justify the large effort with respect to logistics, costs and manpower. With rising awareness, referring centres may increasingly consider this lifesaving option at an early stage, which may further improve outcomes.

Acute right ventricular (RV) failure is a complex clinical syndrome that results from many causes. Research efforts have disproportionately focused on the failing left ventricle, but recently the need has been recognized to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of RV anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, and of management approaches. Right ventricular mechanics and function are altered in the setting of either pressure overload or volume overload. Failure may also result from a primary reduction of myocardial contractility owing to ischaemia, cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmia. Dysfunction leads to impaired RV filling and increased right atrial pressures. As dysfunction progresses to overt RV failure, the RV chamber becomes more spherical and tricuspid regurgitation is aggravated, a cascade leading to increasing venous congestion. Ventricular interdependence results in impaired left ventricular filling, a decrease in left ventricular stroke volume, and ultimately low cardiac output and cardiogenic shock. Identification and treatment of the underlying cause of RV failure, such as acute pulmonary embolism, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute decompensation of chronic pulmonary hypertension, RV infarction, or arrhythmia, is the primary management strategy. Judicious fluid management, use of inotropes and vasopressors, assist devices, and a strategy focusing on RV protection for mechanical ventilation if required all play a role in the clinical care of these patients. Future research should aim to address the remaining areas of uncertainty which result from the complexity of RV haemodynamics and lack of conclusive evidence regarding RV-specific treatment approaches.