Brent C. Lampert

Right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist devices

Most patients with advanced systolic dysfunction who are assessed for a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) also have some degree of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Hence, RV failure (RVF) remains a common complication of LVAD placement. Severe RVF after LVAD implantation is associated with increased peri-operative mortality and length of stay and can lead to coagulopathy, altered drug metabolism, worsening nutritional status, diuretic resistance, and poor quality of life. However, current medical and surgical treatment options for RVF are limited and often result in significant impairments in quality of life. There has been continuing interest in developing risk models for RVF before LVAD implantation. This report reviews the anatomy and physiology of the RV and how it changes in the setting of LVAD support. We will discuss proposed mechanisms and describe biochemical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic predictors of RVF in LVAD patients. We will describe management strategies for reducing and managing RVF. Finally, we will discuss the increasingly recognized and difficult to manage entity of chronic RVF after LVAD placement and describe opportunities for future research.

Remote hemodynamic monitoring for ambulatory left ventricular assist device patients

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been shown to markedly improve survival and quality of life in patients with end-stage heart failure. However, despite ongoing improvements in survival and quality of life, significant challenges still exist in the management of these patients, including a high rate of recurrent heart failure and rehospitalizations. Similar challenges exist in the non-LVAD heart failure population as well, and recent efforts to utilize remote hemodynamic monitoring techniques to improve outcomes have shown promise. No data currently exist demonstrating extension of this benefit into the LVAD population, although a theoretical benefit can be extrapolated. Herein we review current remote hemodynamic methods and potential applications towards LVAD patients.

Cost-Effectiveness of Routine Surveillance Endomyocardial Biopsy After 12 Months Post–Heart Transplantation

Background—Despite low risk of late rejection after heart transplant (HT), surveillance endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) are often continued for years. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of routine EMB after 12 months post-HT. Methods and Results—Markov model compared the following surveillance EMB strategies to baseline strategy of stopping EMB 12 months post-HT: (1) every 4 months during year 2 post-HT, (2) every 6 months during year 2, (3) every 4 months for years 2 to 3, and (4) every 6 months for years 2 to 3. Patients entered the model 12 months post-HT and were followed until 36 months. In all strategies, patients had EMB with symptoms; in biopsy strategies after 12 months, EMB was also performed as scheduled regardless of symptoms. One-way and Monte Carlo sensitivity analyses were performed. Stopping EMB at 12 months was dominant (more effective, less costly), saving

Toward Genetics-Driven Early Intervention in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Design and Implementation of the DCM Precision Medicine Study

2884 per patient compared with the next best strategy (every 6 months for year 2) and gaining 0.0011 quality-adjusted life-years. Increasing the annual risk of asymptomatic rejection in years 2 to 3 from previously reported 2.5% to 8.5% resulted in the biopsy every 6 months for year 2 strategy gaining 0.0006 quality-adjusted life-years, but cost

Anticoagulation management following left ventricular assist device implantation is similar across all provider strategies

4 913 599 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. EMB for 12 months was also no longer dominant when mortality risk from untreated asymptomatic rejection approached 11%; competing strategies still cost >

Heart Transplant Patient Selection and Preparation

200 000 per quality-adjusted life-year as that risk approached 99%. Conclusions—Surveillance EMB for 12 months post-HT is more effective and less costly than EMB performed after 12 months, unless risks of asymptomatic cellular rejection and its mortality are strikingly higher than previously observed.

To ventricular assist devices or not: When is implantation of a ventricular assist device appropriate in advanced ambulatory heart failure?

Background— The cause of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is unknown by definition, but its familial subtype is considered to have a genetic component. We hypothesize that most idiopathic DCM, whether familial or nonfamilial, has a genetic basis, in which case a genetics-driven approach to identifying at-risk family members for clinical screening and early intervention could reduce morbidity and mortality. Methods— On the basis of this hypothesis, we have launched the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute- and National Human Genome Research Institute-funded DCM Precision Medicine Study, which aims to enroll 1300 individuals (600 non-Hispanic African ancestry, 600 non-Hispanic European ancestry, and 100 Hispanic) who meet rigorous clinical criteria for idiopathic DCM along with 2600 of their relatives. Enrolled relatives will undergo clinical cardiovascular screening to identify asymptomatic disease, and all individuals with idiopathic DCM will undergo exome sequencing to identify relevant variants in genes previously implicated in DCM. Results will be returned by genetic counselors 12 to 14 months after enrollment. The data obtained will be used to describe the prevalence of familial DCM among idiopathic DCM cases and the genetic architecture of idiopathic DCM in multiple ethnicity–ancestry groups. We will also conduct a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of Family Heart Talk, an intervention to aid family communication, for improving uptake of preventive screening and surveillance in at-risk first-degree relatives. Conclusions— We anticipate that this study will demonstrate that idiopathic DCM has a genetic basis and guide best practices for a genetics-driven approach to early intervention in at-risk relatives. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03037632.

If Exercise Is the Best Medicine, Should Medicine Be More Focused on Exercise in HFpEF?∗

OBJECTIVES Thromboembolic and bleeding events are potential complications following left ventricular assist device implantation. A tight control of the international normalized ratio (INR) is believed to be crucial in the reduction of postimplant complications. There is significant variability among institutions as to whether a device implanting centre should be managing the INR. In this study, we evaluated the effect of INR management strategies in maintaining a therapeutic INR. METHODS A retrospective review was utilized to identify patients implanted with either the HeartMate II or the HeartWare HVAD between January 2011 and February 2016. Patients were stratified into 4 groups based on the post-discharge INR management strategy: outside hospital system anticoagulation clinic, outside hospital primary care provider, implanting centre anticoagulation clinic or implanting centre ventricular assist device office. The INR data were collected and analysed for both the early (discharge, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days) and late (3, 6, 9 and 12 months) postoperative periods. RESULTS There were 163 patients identified during the study period who met the study inclusion criteria: 49 (30%) patients were managed by an outside hospital system anticoagulation clinic, 59 (36.2%) patients by an outside hospital physician/primary care provider, 22 (13.5%) patients by the implanting centre anticoagulation clinic and 33 (20.2%) patients by the implanting centre ventricular assist device office. There were no statistically significant differences found between management strategies across all time points. CONCLUSIONS There was no statistically significant difference found between the management strategies examined. Regardless of the chosen INR management strategy, patients have similar INR values and postoperative outcomes.

Patient Selection for Long-Term Mechanical Circulatory Support: Is It Ever too Early for the NYHA Class III Patient?

Appropriate risk stratification of patients with end-stage heart failure is critical for transplant patient selection and allocation of scarce donor organs. The selection of cardiac transplant candidates is a multidisciplinary process that continues to evolve. The ultimate decision about whether to place a patient on the heart transplant waiting list is made by a multidisciplinary team and is based on a combination of the patient’s heart failure severity, comorbidities that may increase perioperative and long-term risk, social support system, and clinical judgment.

Elderly Heart Transplant Recipient Long-Term Survival Is Not Dependent on Donor Age: A Conditional Survival Analysis

Advanced heart failure has been traditionally treated via either heart transplantation, continuous inotropes, consideration for hospice and more recently via left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Heart transplantation has been limited by organ availability and the futility of other options has thrust LVAD therapy into the mainstream of therapy for end stage heart failure. Improvements in technology and survival combined with improvements in the quality of life have made LVADs a viable option for many patients suffering from heart failure. The question of when to implant these devices in those patients with advanced, yet still ambulatory heart failure remains a controversial topic. We discuss the current state of LVAD therapy and the risk vs benefit of these devices in the treatment of heart failure.