Long-term Outcome of High-urgency Heart Transplant Patients With and Without Temporary Ventricular Assist Device Support

Long term outcome of heart failure patients disqualified from heart transplantation

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with advanced heart failure is unfavourable. However, little is known about the survival of patients referred for heart transplantation but finally disqualified from transplantation due to contraindications. This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis of patients' disqualified from heart transplantation.

METHODS

It was a retrospective study based on medical records of patients disqualified from heart transplantation.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-one patients were included and 94 deaths were recorded during long-term follow-up (range 0.02-10.1 years). The survival rate at 5 years was 25%. The mean age of the studied population was 57.7 years and the majority of patients were males, 87.4%. The ischaemic aetiology (66.2%) was the most dominant aetiology of heart failure. In the Cox regression model, supervision by the specialist cardiology centre (HR 0.61;p = 0.04) and pharmacotherapy with beta-blockers (HR = 0.47;p = 0.02) positively influenced the prognosis. On the contrary, well-known heart failure risk factors like a renal failure (HR 1.59;p = 0.049), pulmonary hypertension (HR 1.55;p = 0.046), liver failure (HR 2.65;p = 0.02) were negative predictors of outcome. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with other than pulmonary hypertension causes of disqualification from heart transplantation had a better survival rate, p = 0.047.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of patients disqualified from heart transplantation is unfavourable. However, some of the patients experience relatively long survival. Therefore, careful clinical assessment and identification of factors influencing prognosis may improve adequate patients' qualifications for heart transplantation.

Outcomes and risk factors of mechanical circulatory support by peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in heart transplant candidates needing urgent heart transplantation

Introduction Peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) is one of the most frequently used methods of temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) at patients with life-threatening circulatory derangement.

Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness and risk factors of peripheral VA ECMO in patients waiting of urgent heart transplantation (HT).

Materials and methods. The study included 149 (129 (86.6%) men and 20 (13.4%) women, age 12 to 72 (43.0 ± 1.2) years) heart transplant candidates who in the period 01.01.2011–31.12.2016 were supported by peripheral VA ECMO. These patients were 21.1% of the total waiting list (n = 706) of our institute at the same period. Indication for MCS by VA ECMO was advanced heart failure corresponding to I or II level of INTERMACS classifi cation.

Results. 135 (90.6%) from 149 patients were successfully supported to HT. 14 (9.4%) deed following MCS. Before of VA ECMO these patients (n = 14) had more severe (p < 0.05) hemodynamic disorders, organ dysfunction, electrolyte and metabolic disorders compared to patients TC successfully supported to HT. Left atrium (n = 24)/left ventricle drainage (n = 8) was performed for volume decompression of left heart (n = 32 (21.5%)). In a single-factor analysis, statistically signifi cant pre VA ECMO risk factors for the lethal outcome were: creatinine ≥ 140 mmol/l, urea ≥ 15 mmol/l, total bilirubin ≥ 80 μmol/l, ALT ≥ 300 U/l, AST ≥ 300 U/l, INR ≥ 3.0, procalcitonin ≥ 3.0 ng/ml, preexisting left ventricular thrombosis complicated thromboembolic stroke with brain death following VA ECMO (n = 3). Statistically signifi cant factors for the lethal outcome following MCS were: transthoracic left ventricle drainage (n = 8) compared to transcutaneous transfemoral transseptal left atrium drainage (n = 24) for volume decompression of left heart; hemolysis ≥ 300 mg%.

Conclusion. VA ECMO is high effi ciency method of temporary MCS in 90.6% heart transplant candidates needed at urgent HT. VA ECMO must be begin before development of potential lethal multiorgan and septic complications. Preexisting left ventricular thrombosis increase risk of lethal thromboembolic brain injury following VA ECMO. Patients with transcutaneous transfemoral transseptal left atrium drainage for left heart volume decompression had better outcome following MCS by VA ECMO.