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In patients with the HeartMate 3 (HM3, Abbott) left ventricular (LV) assist device (LVAD), outflow graft narrowing has been reported as a result of accumulation of biodebris either internal or external to the graft. This study describes the prevalence, imaging findings, and clinical outcomes associated with HM3 LVAD outflow graft narrowing.A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed in patients who received an HM3 LVAD between November 2014 and July 2019. All patients with a computed tomographic (CT) angiogram or a CT scan with intravenous contrast sufficient to evaluate the outflow graft lumen were included. Narrowing was defined as a hypodensity of ≥3 mm.Of 165 HM3 LVAD recipients, 46 (28%) had qualifying imaging. Outflow graft narrowing was present in 33% (15/46). One patient had complete obstruction requiring emergency surgery, whereas 14 patients had a median hypodensity of 4.5 mm (interquartile range, 3.3-5.8 mm). The presence of outflow graft narrowing was significantly associated with a longer duration of LVAD support (588.2 ± 277.5 days vs 131.5 ± 170.9 days; P.0001). One-year survival after identification of narrowing was 93%, with death occurring in 1 patient with complete obstruction. LV unloading (mean percent decrease in LV end-diastolic diameter at time of CT imaging vs pre-LVAD) was 16.7% vs 17.7% in patients with and without narrowing, respectively (P = .86).Among patients with adequate imaging, one-third have evidence of narrowing. Outflow graft narrowing secondary to biodebris was more likely to be found in HM3 LVAD recipients with longer duration of LVAD support. There was no significant difference in LV unloading between patients with and without narrowing.

The use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) following acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) is increasing, but the ability to predict favorable outcomes with support remains limited. We retrospectively reviewed all patients with AMI-CS supported with VA-ECMO between December 2008 and June 2018. One hundred twenty-six patients received VA-ECMO for AMI-CS during the study period; of these, 39 (31.0%) experienced ventricular recovery and were discharged while 87 (69.0%) did not recover, with 71 (56.3%) dying in the hospital and 16 (12.7%) surviving to discharge with either left ventricular assist device or heart transplant. TIMI 3 flow in culprit artery (OR, 4.01; 95% CI, 1.25-12.77; p = 0.02), serum lactate (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.80-0.99; p = 0.04), and prompt revascularization (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 1.18-9.81; p = 0.02) were independent predictors of ventricular recovery. Four variables emerged as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality and were used to create the AMI-ECMO Risk Score: age70 years, creatinine1.5 mg/dL, serum lactate4.0 mmol/L, and lack of TIMI 3 flow in culprit artery. In patients supported with VA-ECMO for AMI-CS, prompt, successful revascularization, and lower serum lactate were associated with ventricular recovery while younger age, lower serum lactate, and creatinine, and successful revascularization were associated with survival to discharge. The AMI-ECMO risk score is a simple tool that can help risk stratify patients with AMI-CS being considered for VA-ECMO support.

Significant weight loss due to cardiac cachexia is an independent predictor of mortality in many heart failure (HF) clinical trials. The impact of significant weight loss while on the waitlist for heart transplant (HT) has yet to be studied with respect to post-transplant survival.Adult HT recipients from 2010 to 2021 were identified in the UNOS registry. Patients who experienced an absolute weight change from the time of listing to transplant were included and classified into two groups by percent weight loss from time of listing to time of transplant using a cut-off of 10%. The primary endpoint was 1-year survival following HT.5951 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 763 (13%) experienced ≥10% weight loss from the time of listing to transplant. Weight loss ≥ 10% was associated with reduced 1-year post-transplant survival (86.9% vs. 91.0%, long-rank p = .0003). Additionally, weight loss ≥ 10% was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality in a multivariable model adjusting for significant risk factors (adjusted HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04-1.46). In secondary analyses, weight loss ≥ 10% was associated with reduced 1-year survival independent of hospitalized status at time of transplant as well as obesity status at listing (i.e., body mass index [BMI] 30 kg/mPreoperative weight loss ≥ 10% is associated with reduced survival in patients listed for HT. Nutrition interventions prior to transplant may prove beneficial in this population.

There is renewed interest in intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use in chronic systolic heart failure (HF) patients with acute decompensation and cardiogenic shock (CS). We sought to identify predictors of early IABP response to guide optimal use in this population.We retrospectively analyzed records of chronic systolic HF patients presenting to our center between 2011-2018 with acute decompensated HF who received IABP for CS. An IABP responder was defined as having both an early cardiac output (CO) increase and mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) decrease above the cohort median values.During this period, a total of 218 chronic systolic HF patients received IABP for acute decompensation with CS. The average CO increase was 0.57 ± 0.85 L/min and MPAP reduction was 5.1 ± 7.6 mm Hg. Fifty-six patients (25.7%) were identified as IABP responders, with mean CO increase of 1.21 ± 0.87 L/min and MPAP reduction of 12.1 ± 5.9 mm Hg. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR)1300 dynes/sec/cm-5 (odds ratio [OR], 5.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.86-13.6; P.01) and moderate-severe mitral regurgitation (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.25-4.66; P.01) predicted robust hemodynamic response.A subset of chronic systolic HF patients had robust hemodynamic response to IABP with significant CO augmentation and MPAP reduction. Higher SVR and moderate-severe mitral regurgitation predicted early hemodynamic response to IABP.

This study sought to determine if the presence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) provided a mortality benefit during continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support.An ICD decreases mortality in selected patients with advanced heart failure and have been associated with reduced mortality in patients with pulsatile LVAD. However, it is unclear whether that benefit extends to patients with a contemporary continuous-flow LVAD.Propensity score matching was used to generate a cohort of patients with similar baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was freedom from death during LVAD support. Secondary endpoints included freedom from unexpected death, likelihood of transplantation and recovery, and adverse events.Among 16,384 eligible patients in the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support registry, 2,209 patients with an ICD and 2,209 patients without one had similar propensity scores and were included. The presence of an ICD was associated with an increased mortality risk (hazard ratio: 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04 to 1.39; p = 0.013) and an increased risk of unexpected death during device support (HR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.71; p = 0.03). Patients with an ICD were more likely to undergo transplantation (HR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.35; p = 0.06) and less likely to have LVAD explant for recovery (HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.98; p = 0.04). Patients with an ICD had a higher rate of treated ventricular arrhythmias (rate ratio: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.48; p = 0.001) and rehospitalization (rate ratio: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.12; p 0.0001), but rates of hemorrhagic stroke were similar (rate ratio: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.26; p = 0.98).Among patients with a continuous flow LVAD, the presence of an ICD was not associated with reduced mortality.