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OBJECTIVES Patients with mechanical circulatory support bridged to a heart transplant (HTx) are at higher risk of postoperative graft dysfunction. In this subset, a mode of graft preservation that shortens graft ischaemia should be beneficial. METHODS The outcomes of 38 patients on mechanical circulatory support (extracorporeal life support, left ventricular assist device and biventricular assist device) who received a HTx between 2015 and 2020 were analysed according to the method of graft preservation: cold storage (CS) group, 24 (63%) or ex vivo perfusion (EVP) group, 14 (37%). RESULTS The median age was 57 (range 30–73) vs 64 (35–75) years (P = 0.10); 88% were men (P = 0.28); extracorporeal life support was more frequent in the CS group (54% vs 36%; P = 0.27) versus left ventricular and biventricular assist devices in the EVP group (46% vs 64%; P = 0.27). Clamping time was shorter in the EVP group (P < 0.001) and ischaemic time >4 h was higher in the CS group (P = 0.01). Thirty-day mortality was 13% (0–27%) in the CS group and 0% (P = 0.28) in the EVP group. A significantly lower primary graft failure [7% (0–23%) vs 42% (20–63%); P = 0.03] was observed in the EVP group. Survival at 1 year was 79 ± 8% (63–95%) in the CS group and 84 ± 10% (64–104%) in the EVP group (P = 0.95). CONCLUSIONS Our results support the use of ex vivo graft perfusion in patients on mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to a HTx. This technique, by shortening graft ischaemic time, seems to improve post-HTx outcomes.

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Background Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been emerging as a strong predictor of mortality among patients with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to verify if RDW is able to predict survival after heart transplantation (HTx). Methods Two hundred and eighteen recipients who underwent HTx between 2000 and 2013 were classified into three groups according to the pre-HTx RDW tertile values (14.6 and 16.4%), and their outcomes were compared. Mean follow-up was 6.6 ± 4.2 years. Results RDW correlated with other markers of chronic pathological conditions, such as the Index for Mortality Prediction after Cardiac Transplantation (IMPACT) score (P = 0.002) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (P < 0.001), and with creatinine levels (P = 0.007), previous cardiac surgery (P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.02), haemoglobin value (P = 0.004), pulmonary capillary wedge and central venous pressures (P = 0.019 and 0.01, respectively), systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures (P = 0.002 and 0.014, respectively). The rate of 30-day mortality from the lowest to the highest RDW tertile was 1.4, 4 and 9% (P = 0.02), respectively. Long-term mortality correlated at multivariate analysis with recipient age [hazard ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.02–1.09], donor age (hazard ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.0–1.04) and RDW (hazard ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.04–1.23). The survival probability at 4, 8 and 12 years was 90, 84 and 74% for recipients with RDW less than 14.6%, while it was 72, 60 and 42% for recipients with RDW more than 16.4% (hazard ratio 3.29, 95% CI 1.74–6.24). No differences were found between causes of death. Conclusion RDW correlated with survival in HTx recipients. This marker of blood cell size may represent a surrogate of disease and a helpful tool in the risk-assessment process.

Aims The prognosis for patients affected by light-chain cardiac amyloidosis and acquired transthyretin-related (TTR) amyloidosis is poor. Heart transplantation (HTx) could improve prognosis also enabling autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in the first group. Methods and results A total of 36 patients affected by systemic amyloidosis have been referred to our centre from 2009 to 2019. Of these, nine had cardiac involvement: seven by light-chain amyloidosis and two by acquired TTR amyloidosis. None died while waiting for HTx. A specific internal protocol useful to select candidates and to monitor the organ involvement after HTx was developed. Median age at diagnosis was 54 years and 66% were male. The most common short-term complication after HTx was renal failure (44%), followed by acute cardiac rejection more than 2R (22%). ASCT was performed in six out of seven light-chain cardiac amyloidosis patients, with a median time of 6 months after HTx. Two patients affected by light-chain cardiac amyloidosis died due to amyloidosis relapse: one before undergoing ASCT. After a median follow-up of 31 (7–124) months, 1- and 5-year survival was 88 and 66% in the cardiac light-chain amyloidosis group. Conversely, 1- and 5-year survival was 100% in the acquired TTR amyloidosis group. Conclusion HTx may represent a valuable option in carefully selected patients. ASCT after HTx is an effective treatment that could decrease amyloidosis relapse in light-chain cardiac amyloidosis patients. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to select the best candidates and to obtain the most effective results with a specific surveillance follow-up protocol.

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Aims We aimed to describe how treatment of patients in cardiogenic shock bridged to heart transplantation with mechanical circulatory support, using either biventricular assist devices (BVADs) or extracorporeal life support (ECLS), has evolved in the last 20 years in our centre. Methods Since 1998, 72 patients with refractory heart failure and indication for heart transplantation have received mechanical circulatory support: 40 had an ECLS system and 32 a BVAD. Results Early mortality was similar (17.5 vs. 9.4%, P = 0.25) regardless of the type of support. After a median support time of 8 (1–27) vs. 34 (0–385) days (P < 0.01), 70 vs. 65.6% (P = 0.69) of patients underwent transplantation in the two groups. Prior to transplantation, BVAD patients were more stable with lower need for mechanical ventilation (9 vs. 57%, P < 0.01) and dialysis (0 vs. 38%, P < 0.01). Thirty-day mortality after transplantation was similar (18 vs. 14%, P = 0.53). Patients with extracorporeal support had higher rates of renal (P = 0.02) and respiratory failure (P = 0.03), infections (P = 0.02), atrial fibrillation (P = 0.03) and longer ICU stay (P = 0.01). Late survival was similar, while 5-year freedom from coronary vasculopathy was higher in those with BVAD (P = 0.03). Conclusion Although ECLS provides faster and simpler assistance compared with BVADs, no differences in early and medium-term outcomes in the last 20 years were observed in patients with cardiogenic shock. However, BVADs provided longer duration of support, better multiorgan recovery allowing more adequate graft selection, resulting in a lower rate of posttransplant complications.

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