Donor heart preservation with iloprost supplemented St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution in isolated rat hearts

Preservation of the donor heart: from basic science to clinical studies

The methods of donor heart preservation are aimed at minimizing graft dysfunction caused by ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) which inevitably occurs during the ex vivo transport interval. At present, the standard technique of heart preservation is cardiac arrest followed by static cold storage in a crystalloid heart preservation solution (HPS). This technique ensures an acceptable level of heart protection against IRI for <6 h. In clinical trials, comparable levels of myocardial protection against IRI were provided by various HPSs. The growing shortage of donor hearts is one of the major factors stimulating the development of new techniques of heart preservation. Here, we summarize new HPS formulations and provide a focus for optimization of the composition of existing HPSs. Such methods of donor heart preservation as machine perfusion, preservation at sub-zero temperature and oxygen persufflation are also discussed. Furthermore, we review experimental data showing that pre- and post-conditioning of the cardiac graft can improve its function when used in combination with cold storage. The evidence on the feasibility of cardiac donation after circulatory death, as well as the techniques of heart reconditioning after a period of warm ischaemia, is presented. The implementation of new techniques of donor heart preservation may contribute to the use of hearts from extended criteria donors, thereby expanding the total donor pool.

Impact of pulmonary hypertension on early hemodynamics, morbidity and mortality after orthotopic heart transplantation. A single center study

AIMS

To determine the effect of pre-existing pulmonary hypertension (PHT) on early hemodynamics, morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation (HTx).

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected from 149 patients, who underwent HTx between January 2000 and December 2007. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: Group A (n=84) without PTH, group B (n=50) with mild to moderate PTH and group C (n=15) with severe PTH. We studied hemodynamic profile, tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR), incidence of acute cellular rejections (AR), infections, duration of hospitalization, 30-day mortality and a long-term survival.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were similar in all groups. Using vasodilator treatment PVR was successfully brought down to normal range 2.5 ± 0.6 Wood' units (WU) on the day 1 following the surgery in all groups. Over 80% of patients were treated in Group C, 32% in Group A and 46% in Group B. There was no significant difference in the severity of TR among the 3 groups early after HTx (severe TR was observed in 46%, 54%, 33%, respectively). There was no significant difference in incidence of AR (G ≥ 2 Banff classification) (23%, 23%, 33%, respectively), infections (28%, 32%, 33%, respectively) or duration of hospitalization (30, 30, 28 days, respectively). There was no correlation between pre-transplant PHT and 30-day mortality or a long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort, PHT dropped very quickly after HTx, and was not associated with acute right heart failure following the surgery. Reversible PTH does not have a negative impact on short- or long-term survival after HTx.