J. Raikhelkar

Decoupling Between Diastolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure and Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure as a Prognostic Factor After Continuous Flow Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Background: A cohort of heart failure (HF) patients receiving left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has decoupling of their diastolic pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. However, the clinical implications of this decoupling remain unclear. Methods and Results: In this prospective study, patients with LVADs underwent routine invasive hemodynamic ramp testing with right heart catheterization, during which LVAD speeds were adjusted. Inappropriate decoupling was defined as a >5 mm Hg difference between diastolic pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. The primary outcomes of survival and heart failure readmission rates after ramp testing were assessed. Among 63 LVAD patients (60±12 years old and 25 female [40%]), 27 patients (43%) had inappropriate decoupling at their baseline speed. After adjustment of their rotation speed during ramp testing, 30 patients (48%) had inappropriate decoupling. Uni/multivariable Cox analyses demonstrated that decoupling was the only significant predictor for the composite end point of death and heart failure readmission during the 1 year following the ramp study (total of 18 events; hazards ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.24; P<0.05). Furthermore, normalization of decoupling (n=8) during ramp testing was significantly associated with higher 1-year heart failure readmission–free survival rate compared with the non-normalized group (n=19, 100% versus 53%; P=0.035). Conclusions: The presence of inappropriate decoupling was associated with worse outcomes in patients with LVADs. Prospective, large-scale multicenter studies to validate the result are warranted.

Long-Acting Octreotide Reduces the Recurrence of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients With a Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device

BACKGROUND Recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the most significant adverse events in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). METHODS We enrolled LVAD patients who had received an intramuscular injection of 20 mg octreotide every 4 weeks as secondary prevention for recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding despite conventional medical therapies and repeated transfusions. The frequency of gastrointestinal bleeding and other associated clinical outcomes before and during octreotide therapy were compared. RESULTS Thirty LVAD patients (66.4 ± 8.8 years old, 16 men [53%]) received octreotide therapy for 498.8 ± 356.0 days without any octreotide-associated adverse events. The frequency of gastrointestinal bleeding was decreased significantly during octreotide therapy (from 3.4 ± 3.1 to 0.7 ± 1.3 events/year; P < .001), accompanied by significant reductions in red blood cell and flesh frozen plasma transfusions, days in hospital, and need for endoscopic procedures (P < .05 for all). CONCLUSIONS Octreotide therapy reduced the frequency of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding and may be considered for secondary prevention.

Cannula and Pump Positions Are Associated With Left Ventricular Unloading and Clinical Outcome in Patients With HeartWare Left Ventricular Assist Device

BACKGROUND Cannula and pump positions are associated with clinical outcomes such as device thrombosis in patients with HeartMate II; however, clinical implications of HVAD (HeartWare International, Framingham, Massachusetts) cannula position are unknown. This study aims to assess the relationship among cannula position, left ventricular (LV) unloading, and patient prognosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-seven HVAD patients (60.0 ± 12.6 years of age and 19 males [70%]) underwent ramp test. Device position was quantified from chest X-ray parameters obtained at the time of the hemodyamic ramp test: (1) cannula coronal angle, (2) pump depth, (3) cannula sagittal angle, and (4) pump area. Lower cannula coronal angle was associated with LV unloading (as measured by smaller LV diastolic dimension and lower pulmonary capillary wedge pressure). Smaller pump area was associated with LV dynamic unloading, as assessed by steeper negative slopes of LV diastolic dimension and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure during incremental rotational speed change. Cannula coronal angle ≤65° was associated with reduced heart failure readmission rate (hazard ratio, 10.33; P = .007 by log-rank test). CONCLUSION HVAD cannula and pump positions are associated with LV unloading and improved clinical outcomes. Prospective studies evaluating surgical techniques to ensure optimal device positioning and its effects on clinical outcomes are warranted.

Increase in short-term risk of rejection in heart transplant patients receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

BACKGROUND Neutropenia is a significant adverse event after heart transplantation (HT) and increases infection risk. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is commonly used in patients with neutropenia. In this work, we assessed the adverse effects of G-CSF treatment in the setting of a university hospital. METHODS Data on HT patients from January 2008 to July 2016 were reviewed. Patients who received G-CSF were identified and compared with patients without a history of therapy. Baseline characteristics, rejection episodes, and outcomes were collected. Data were analyzed by incidence rates, time to rejection and survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves, and odds ratios were generated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Two hundred twenty-two HT patients were studied and 40 (18%) received G-CSF for a total of 85 total neutropenic events (0.79 event/patient year). There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. In the 3 months after G-CSF, the incidence rate of rejection was 0.067 event/month. In all other time periods considered free of G-CSF effect, the incidence rate was 0.011 event/month. This rate was similar to the overall incidence rate in the non-GCSF group, which was 0.010 event/month. There was a significant difference between the incidence rates in the G-CSF group at 0 to 3 months after G-CSF administration and the non-GCSF group (p = 0.04), but not for the other time periods (p = 0.5). Freedom from rejection in the 3 months after G-CSF administration was 87.5% compared with 97.5% in the non-GCSF group (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS G-CSF administration was found to be associated with significant short-term risk of rejection. This suggests the need for increased surveillance during this time period.

Decoupling Between Diastolic Pulmonary Arterial Pressure and Pulmonary Arterial Wedge Pressure at Incremental Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Speeds Is Associated With Worse Prognosis After LVAD Implantation

BACKGROUND Decoupling between diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure (dPAP) and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) is an index of pulmonary vasculature remodeling and provides prognostic information. Furthermore, decoupling may change during incremental left ventricular assist device (LVAD) speed changes. METHODS AND RESULTS In this prospective study, patients underwent an echocardiographic and hemodynamic ramp test after LVAD implantation and were followed for 1 year. The change in decoupling (dPAP - PAWP) between the lowest and highest LVAD speeds during the ramp test was calculated. Survival and heart failure admission rates were assessed by means of Kaplan-Meier analysis. Eighty-seven patients were enrolled in the study: 54 had a Heartmate II LVAD (60.8 ± 9.3 years of age and 34 male) and 33 had an HVAD LVAD (58.6 ± 13.2 years of age and 20 male). Patients who experienced greater changes in decoupling (Δdecoupling >3 mm Hg) had a persistently elevated dPAP at incremental LVAD speed and had worse 1-year heart failure readmission-free survival compared with the group without significant changes in the degree of decoupling (41% vs 75%; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS An increase in decoupling between dPAP and PAWP at incremental LVAD speed changes was associated with worse prognosis in LVAD patients.

Consequences of Retained Defibrillator and Pacemaker Leads After Heart Transplantation—An Underrecognized Problem

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are common in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HT), and complete removal is not always possible at the time of transplantation. METHODS We retrospectively assessed the frequency of retained CIED leads and clinical consequences in consecutive HT patients from 2013 to 2016. Clinical outcomes included bacteremia, upper-extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT), lead migration, and inability to perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS A total of 138 patients (55 ± 11 years of age, 76% male) were identified; 37 (27%) had retained lead fragments (RLFs) at discharge. Patients with RLFs were older, had longer lead implantation time before HT, and a higher prevalence of dual-coil CIED leads compared with those without RLFs (P < .05 for all). Lead implantation time was identified as an independent predictor for RLFs (P < .05). Patients with RLFs had a higher frequency of DVT compared with the non-RLF group during the 1-year study period (42% vs 21%; P < .04). There was no difference in bacteremia. Fourteen patients (38%) could not undergo clinically indicated MRI. CONCLUSION RLFs after HT occur commonly and are associated with a higher rate of UEDVT and limit the use of MRI. Although no significant difference was found in the rates of bacteremia between the groups, this finding might be explained by the overall low incidence. Patients with risk factors for RLFs should be identified before transplantation, and complete lead removal should be considered with a multidisciplinary approach.

Hemodynamic Pump-Patient Interactions and Left Ventricular Assist Device Imaging

Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) provide a durable option for patients with advanced hear failure. Axial and centrifugal pump physiology differs with regard to the relationship between pump inflow-outflow cannula pressure differential and flow, which results in device behavior that can vary drastically under different loading conditions. Ramp studies can aid the clinician in choosing the optimal speed to adequately unload the left ventricle. Advances in 3-dimensional echocardiography enhance the understanding of chamber geometry for both types of LVADs. Novel outflow graft imaging techniques have been developed to better characterize aortic insufficiency, which may be underestimated with current standard methods.

CORRELATION OF NONINVASIVE ASSESSMENT OF LUNG FLUID PERCENTAGE WITH INVASIVELY MEASURED HEMODYNAMICS

Background: Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) measuring lung fluid content, expressed as a percent of lung volume is being studied to monitor fluid status in heart failure (HF) patients to reduce hospitalizations. However, the correlation between ReDS values and invasive measures of volume status is