Left ventricular assist device-related infections: a multicentric study

OBJECTIVES

The implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a major therapeutic development for end-stage heart failure in selected patients. As their use is expanding, infectious complications are emerging, with limited data available to guide their management. We aimed to better characterize LVAD-related infections.

METHODS

We enrolled all consecutive patients diagnosed with LVAD-related infections in three referral centres in France, using a standardized definition of infections in patients with LVAD. Data were collected from medical charts using a standardized questionnaire.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2012, 159 patients received LVAD for end-stage heart failure. Among them, 36 (22.6%; 5 women, 31 men) presented at least one infectious complication, after a median time of 2.9 months from LVAD implantation (interquartile range, 1.8-7.5), with a median follow up of 12 months (interquartile range 8-17). Main co-morbidities were alcoholism (33%), diabetes (11%) and immunosuppression (11%). Mean age at implantation was 51 (±11) years. LVAD were implanted as bridge-to-transplantation (n=22), bridge-to-recovery (n=8), destination therapy (n=4), or unspecified (n=2). LVAD-related infections were restricted to the driveline exit site (n=17), had loco-regional extension (n=13), or reached the internal pump (n=3). The main bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (n=20), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n=7), Enterobacteriaceae (n=14), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=10) and Corynebacterium sp. (n=7), with polymicrobial infections in 19 cases. LVAD could be retained in all patients, with the use of prolonged antibacterial treatment in 34 (94%), and debridement in 17 (47%). One patient died due to LVAD-associated infection.

CONCLUSIONS

LVAD-related infections are common after LVAD implantation, and may be controlled by prolonged antibiotic treatment.

[Severe infective endocarditis through the history]

The history of infective endocarditis (IE) is a good example of medical progress. Initially incurable, endocarditis, when diagnosed, was synonym of death. After significant diagnostic progress, thanks to Osler's contribution especially, the first surgeries and antibacterial drugs obtained very few successful cures. We had to wait until Flamming's discovery to observe frequent cures thanks to antibiotics. Surgery manages to push possibilities of cure a bit further. However, paravalvular extensions, described since the first surgical case of IE, was a real technical matter. Thus, the second half of 20th century was devoted to overcoming this surgical challenge. In this historical review, we describe the story of severe IE, especially with paravalvular involvement, by highlighting major progress - clinical and surgical, that allows its current management.

[Tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma treated by complete carinal reconstruction with the help of an ECMO: about a case]

Primitive tumors of the trachea are rare, accounting for 0.1% of the airway tumors. Cystic adenoid carcinoma (or cylindroma) represents the second most frequent type of tracheal cancers. Histologically speaking, this tumor type is divided in three patterns: cribriform, tubular and solid; it presents a slow growth, perineural invasion and potential local recurrence and metastasis. We presented herein the case of a 56-year-old female suffering from a cystic adenoid carcinoma of the low trachea. She has been treated by carinal resection with negative airway margin and complete reconstruction, with the help of an extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

[Heart transplantation for patients on high emergency list with or without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support]

OBJECTIVE

Severely impaired patients may wait in France on a special and temporary high emergency national list (called SU). Some of these patients need mechanical circulatory support with ECMO. In order to compare two groups of patients on SU, who acceeded to heart transplantation (HT) with or without ECMO, we reviewed retrospectively 20 consecutive patients transplanted on SU between January 2004 and September 2007 in Rennes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Among them, 10 were transplanted without ECMO and 10 others were implanted with a femoro-femoral ECMO before HT.

RESULTS

(1) Considering the group SU without pretransplantation ECMO: 2 years survival rate was 70%. Mean hospital stay was 26.4 days. Three patients were implanted with ECMO for graft dysfunction during postoperative course, without inherent complication. None graft dysfunction occurred after initial hospitalization; (2) considering the group SU with pretransplantation ECMO: 2 years survival rate was 90% (one early death). Mean hospital stay was 45 days with multiple complications due to the ECMO (leg's ischemia: n = 2; lung oedema: n = 1; lymphorrhea: n = 3, low flow requiring change of canulae: n = 1). None graft dysfunction occurred after initial hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Although we didn't reach statistical significance, it seems that ECMO for patients in SU may be useful as bridge to transplant but with a higher morbidity than for similar patients transplanted without ECMO. Additional data from other transplant centers are needed to confirm our findings.