F. De Robertis

Utilization of the Organ Care System Lung for the assessment of lungs from a donor after cardiac death (DCD) before bilateral transplantation

In this manuscript, we present the first experience of evaluating donation after circulatory death (DCD) lungs, using the normothermic preservation Organ Care System (OCS) and subsequent successful transplantation. The OCS could be a useful tool for the evaluation of marginal lungs from DCD donors as it allows a proper recruitment and bronchoscopy in such donations in addition to continuous ex-vivo perfusion and assessment and treatment during transport. The OCS could potentially be a standard of care in the evaluation of marginal lungs from DCD.

Outcomes in Patients Receiving HeartMate II Versus HVAD Left Ventricular Assist Device as a Bridge to Transplantation

OBJECTIVE Ventricular assist devices have become a standard treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. We present data comparing results after implantation of HeartMate II (HM II) versus HVAD (HW) left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for the past 7 years at our institution. METHODS From July 2006 to August 2012, 121 consecutive patients underwent LVAD implantation: 70 (57.9%) received HM II and 51 (42.1%) HW. Patient demographics, perioperative characteristics, and laboratory parameters as well as postoperative outcome were compared retrospectively. RESULTS Patients in the HM II group were significantly younger (P < .01), with more deranged liver function (higher bilirubin [P = .02] and alanine aminotransferase [P = .01] levels), and had a significantly higher rate of preoperative infections requiring antibiotic treatment (P = .02) and a higher body core temperature (P < .01). Other demographic and preoperative parameters did not show statistical differences. Most postoperative characteristics were also similar between the two groups. HM II patients had a significantly higher transfusion rate, but there were no differences in incidence of resternotomy (P = .156). Recovery and VAD explantation were more likely in the HM II group (P = .02). Although there was no significant difference in survival (log rank test: P = .986; Breslow test: P = .827), HM II patients were more likely to develop a percutaneous site infection (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS Both HM II and HW provide similar early postoperative outcome and good long-term survival. The differences observed between the groups may be related to demographic and preoperative factors rather than the type of the device used.

Oxy-RVAD: rescue in pulmonary complications after LVAD implantation:

Pulmonary complications after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation seldom occur; however, if present, they may prove catastrophic. An Oxy-RVAD (oxygenator in right VAD circuit) is a lifesaving technique in such cases and allows freedom of introducing and removing an oxygenator into the RVAD circuit without opening the chest and competing with LVAD flow.

Does grafting of left anterior descending artery with right internal mammary artery have an impact on late outcomes in the context of multiple arterial grafting

Background Universally, anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is accepted as the gold standard in coronary artery bypass grafting. The use of the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) for grafting the LAD has recently emerged as an alternative to avoid composite configuration in multiple arterial grafting using bilateral internal mammary arteries. Whether this recently emerged alternative strategy of RIMA to LAD is as effective as the well-established gold standard LIMA to LAD remains unknown. We investigated the impact of using RIMA for grafting of LAD on late outcomes in the context of multiple arterial grafting.