Inhibition of angiogenesis in the management of refractory gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with LVAD support

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) is often related to GI angiodysplasia (GIAD). We previously reported data on VEGF inhibition with IV bevacizumab in the treatment of LVAD-associated GIAD bleeding, and now present follow-up data on patients treated with IV bevacizumab and/or low-dose oral pazopanib.

METHODS

All consecutive adult patients with LVAD-associated GIB from GIAD treated with bevacizumab or pazopanib, from July 20, 2017 to June 22, 2022, were included in the analysis. Data on hospitalizations, GI endoscopic procedures, and blood transfusions were obtained from first admission for GIB up to a median of 35.7 months following treatment initiation (range 1.3-59.8 months).

RESULTS

Eleven patients (91% male, mean 69.5 ± 8.9 years) were included. Eight patients (73%) received IV bevacizumab, two patients (18%) received oral pazopanib, and one patient (9%) received bevacizumab followed by pazopanib therapy. We observed a significantly decreased number of annualized hospitalizations for GIB (median difference - 2.87, p = 0.002), blood transfusions (median difference - 20.9, p = 0.01), and endoscopies (median difference - 6.95, p = 0.007) in patients pre- and post-anti-angiogenic therapy (bevacizumab and/or pazopanib). Similarly, a significant improvement in these clinical outcomes was noted in the bevacizumab group with decreased annualized hospitalizations (median difference - 2.75, p = 0.014), blood transfusions (median difference - 24.5, p = 0.047), and number of endoscopies (median differences -6.88, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Anti-angiogenic therapy with IV bevacizumab and/or low-dose oral pazopanib appears to provide benefits in patients with LVAD-associated GIB with reduced hospitalizations, blood transfusions, and need for GI endoscopic procedures.

Novel Left Ventricular Unloading Strategies in Patients on Peripheral Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support

The purpose of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) unloading strategies in patients supported with peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). A retrospective review was conducted of all consecutive patients requiring VA-ECMO support for any indication, who underwent novel LV unloading strategies with either direct left atrial venoarterial (LAVA) cannulation or pulmonary artery venoarterial (PAVA) venting, in comparison to Impella and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). The primary outcome was successful bridge to transplant, LV assist device, or myocardial recovery. Forty-six patients (63% male, mean age 52.8 ± 17.6 years) were included. Fourteen patients (30%) underwent novel unloading with either LAVA or PAVA, 11 patients (24%) underwent IABP placement, and 21 patients (46%) underwent Impella insertion. In the novel LV unloading cohort, 10 patients (71%) survived to hospital discharge. Four patients (29%) were weaned from ECMO and eight patients (57%) underwent cardiac transplantation. Although a trend favoring cannula-based unloading for the primary outcome was noted, the cohort was too small for statistical significance (79% LAVA/PAVA, 57% Impella, 45% IABP; p = 0.21). However, probability of survival was greater in the LAVA/PAVA cohort compared to Impella and IABP ( p < 0.05). Thus, we demonstrate the efficacy of LA and PA cannulation as an alternative LV unloading strategy for patients supported with peripheral VA-ECMO.

Biventricular catheterization combined with pressure-volume loop monitoring provides insight into the dynamic effects of left ventricular assist devices ramp on right ventricular function

Ramp studies are utilized for speed optimization of continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs). We here report the utility of combined left and right heart catheterization during a ramp study to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the hemodynamic implications on both ventricles. Pressure-volume loop (PV loop) monitoring uncovered compromised systolic and mildly compromised right ventricular function with increasing LVAD speeds, despite improvement in left ventricular unloading. These findings informed patient management and highlight the potential utility of PV loop monitoring as an adjunct to left and right heart catheterization during ramp studies of next-generation LVADs.

Case Series: Recurrence of Cardiac Sarcoidosis After Orthotopic Heart Transplantation

Orthotopic heart transplantation for cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is becoming increasingly common. Historically, there have been concerns regarding disease recurrence within the allograft. Although rarely reported in the literature, cases of recurrent CS tend to be observed in patients after dose reduction of immunosuppressive therapy and cessation of corticosteroids. Here, we present 2 cases of recurrent CS after orthotopic heart transplantation, confirmed on endomyocardial biopsy. Case 1 reports a 50-year-old man with a fulminant course of giant cell myocarditis who developed allograft recurrence with granulomas 5 years after transplantation despite maintenance corticosteroid therapy. Case 2 reports a 47-year-old man with CS who developed recurrence with the presence of giant cells 2 years after transplantation, with a benign clinical course. With these cases, we demonstrate the clinical overlap between CS and giant cell myocarditis and highlight the spectrum of the disease process. We also demonstrate that CS can recur despite corticosteroid maintenance therapy.

Infections in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Current State and Future Perspectives

Mechanical circulatory support is increasingly being used as bridge-to-transplant and destination therapy in patients with advanced heart failure. Technologic improvements have led to increased patient survival and quality of life, but infection remains one of the leading adverse events following ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. Infections can be classified as VAD-specific, VAD-related, and non-VAD infections. Risk of VAD-specific infections, such as driveline, pump pocket, and pump infections, remains for the duration of implantation. While adverse events are typically most common early (within 90 days of implantation), device-specific infection (primarily driveline) is a notable exception. No diminishment over time is seen, with event rates of 0.16 events per patient-year in both the early and late periods postimplantation. Management of VAD-specific infections requires aggressive treatment and chronic suppressive antimicrobial therapy is indicated when there is concern for seeding of the device. While surgical intervention/hardware removal is often necessary in prosthesis-related infections, this is not so easily accomplished with VADs. This review outlines the current state of infections in patients supported with VAD therapy and discusses future directions, including possibilities with fully implantable devices and novel approaches to treatment.

Discussing Code Status-Balancing Obligations to Respect Patient Autonomy While Avoiding Harm

This essay describes a physician’s experience of completing medical education and postgraduate clinical training in Ireland vs adjusting to residency in the US.

Interventricular-Septal Output While Supported on Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy

The effects of left ventricular unloading on septal function in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have not been well characterized in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between markers of septal function with echocardiography in relationship to RV dysfunction and late RV failure after LVAD implantation. A retrospective study was conducted of patients supported on centrifugal-flow LVADs implanted over a 10-year period. Echocardiographic data were collected pre-operatively and up to 2 years after implantation. Interventricular septum (IVS) measurements were taken at end-systole and end-diastole. Interventricular-septal output (ISO) was calculated using the formula: (IVSs-IVSd)×heart rate. A total of 110 patients were included. An immediate and sustained reduction in both lateral annulus systolic velocity (RVS') and TAPSE were observed after implant ( p < 0.0001). However, ISO gradually decreased over time ( p < 0.0001). While ISO was not predictive of late RV failure, a decrease in ISO by 25% or greater from pre-implant to hospital discharge was associated with late RV failure (OR 4.8; 95% CI, 1.4-16.5; p = 0.012) even after adjusting for relevant clinical variables ( p ≤ 0.01 for each model). RV function is known to be influenced by mechanical ventricular interdependence and we demonstrate that measurement of ISO may be a useful marker in assessing RV dysfunction and predicting RV failure in patients following LVAD implantation.

Wide complex tachycardia discrimination tool improves physicians' diagnostic accuracy

BACKGROUND

Timely and accurate discrimination of wide complex tachycardias (WCTs) into ventricular tachycardia (VT) or supraventricular WCT (SWCT) is critically important. Previously we developed and validated an automated VT Prediction Model that provides a VT probability estimate using the paired WCT and baseline 12-lead ECGs. Whether this model improves physicians' diagnostic accuracy has not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine whether the VT Prediction Model improves physicians' WCT differentiation accuracy.

METHODS

Over four consecutive days, nine physicians independently interpreted fifty WCT ECGs (25 VTs and 25 SWCTs confirmed by electrophysiological study) as either VT or SWCT. Day 1 used the WCT ECG only, Day 2 used the WCT and baseline ECG, Day 3 used the WCT ECG and the VT Prediction Model's estimation of VT probability, and Day 4 used the WCT ECG, baseline ECG, and the VT Prediction Model's estimation of VT probability.

RESULTS

Inclusion of the VT Prediction Model data increased diagnostic accuracy versus the WCT ECG alone (Day 3: 84.2% vs. Day 1: 68.7%, p 0.009) and WCT and baseline ECGs together (Day 3: 84.2% vs. Day 2: 76.4%, p 0.003). There was no further improvement of accuracy with addition of the baseline ECG comparison to the VT Prediction Model (Day 3: 84.2% vs. Day 4: 84.0%, p 0.928). Overall sensitivity (Day 3: 78.2% vs. Day 1: 67.6%, p 0.005) and specificity (Day 3: 90.2% vs. Day 1: 69.8%, p 0.016) for VT were superior after the addition of the VT Prediction Model.

CONCLUSION

The VT Prediction Model improves physician ECG diagnostic accuracy for discriminating WCTs.