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Heart failure (HF) is a common disease associated with high morbidity and mortality rates despite advanced pharmacological therapies. Heart transplantation remains the gold standard therapy for end-stage heart failure; however, its application is curtailed by the persistent shortage of donor organs. Over the past two decades, mechanical circulatory support, notably Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), have been established as an option for patients waiting for a donor organ. This comprehensive review focuses on elucidating the benefits and barriers associated with this application. We provide an overview of landmark clinical trials that have evaluated the use of LVADs as a bridge to transplantation therapy, with a particular focus on post-transplant outcomes. We discuss the benefits of stabilizing patients with these systems, weighing associated complications and limitations. Further technical advancements and research on optimal implantation timing are critical to ultimately improve outcomes and securing quality of life. In a world where the availability of donor organs remains constrained, LVADs are an increasingly important piece of patient care, bridging the critical gap to transplantation in advanced heart failure management.

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BACKGROUND: Stroke after durable left ventricular assist device (d-LVAD) implantation portends high mortality. The incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and the impact on stroke outcomes of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) management among patients requiring bridge to d-LVAD with micro-axial flow-pump (mAFP, Abiomed) is unsettled. METHODS: Consecutive patients, who underwent d-LVAD implantation after being bridged with mAFP at 19 institutions, were retrospectively included. The incidence of early ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke after d-LVAD implantation (<60 days) and association of pre-d-LVAD characteristics and peri-procedural management with a specific focus on tMCS strategies were studied. RESULTS: Among 341 patients, who underwent d-LVAD implantation after mAFP implantation (male gender 83.6%, age 58 [48-65] years, mAFP 5.0/5.5 72.4%), the early ischemic stroke incidence was 10.8% and early hemorrhagic stroke 2.9%. The tMCS characteristics (type of mAFP device and access, support duration, upgrade from intra-aortic balloon pump, ECMELLA, ECMELLA at d-LVAD implantation, hemolysis, and bleeding) were not associated with ischemic stroke after d-LVAD implant. Conversely, the device model (mAFP 2.5/CP vs. mAFP 5.0/5.5: HR 5.6, 95%CI 1.4-22.7, p = 0.015), hemolysis on mAFP support (HR 10.5, 95% CI 1.3-85.3, p = 0.028) and ECMELLA at d-LVAD implantation (HR 5.0, 95% CI 1.4-18.7, p = 0.016) were associated with increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke after d-LVAD implantation. Both early ischemic (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9-4.5, p < 0.001) and hemorrhagic (HR 3.43, 95% CI 1.49-7.88, p = 0.004) stroke were associated with increased 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing d-LVAD implantation following mAFP support, tMCS characteristics do not impact ischemic stroke occurrence, while several factors are associated with hemorrhagic stroke suggesting a proactive treatment target to reduce this complication.

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OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of transposition of the omentum into the mediastinum to support the replacement of infected aortic grafts or to cover infected aortic grafts that are not amenable for surgical replacement. METHODS: All patients with thoracic aortic graft infections who underwent mediastinal transposition of the omentum at our institution between 2005 and 2023 were included in this study. Mediastinal transposition of the omentum was performed either after replacement of the infected graft ('curative concept') or solely as bailout procedure by wrapping the infected graft ('palliative concept'). The diagnosis, including computed tomography scans during follow-up, was made according to the criteria of the Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration. RESULTS: The patient cohort consisted of 31 patients. Both in-hospital and 1-year mortality were 0% (n = 0) for the curative concept (n = 9) compared to 23% (n = 5) and 41% (n = 9) for the palliative concept (n = 22), respectively. There was no graft infection-associated death or recurrence of infection after 3 years in the curative group. Survival was 52% at 3 years in the palliative group, with freedom of infection in 59% of the patients (n = 13). CONCLUSIONS: Transposition of the omentum and wrapping of the infected aortic prosthetic graft is a useful bailout strategy for patients who are ineligible for replacement of an infected aortic graft. However, mortality stays high. For radical treatment of aortic graft infections, it may prove an effective supportive therapy and represents an important tool in the armamentarium of cardiac surgeons.

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OBJECTIVES: The combination of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with a micro-axial flow pump (ECMELLA) is increasingly used for cardiogenic shock (CS) therapy. We report our experience with a novel single-artery access ECMELLA setup with either femoral (2.0) or jugular venous cannulation (2.1), respectively. METHODS: Data from 67 consecutive CS patients treated with ECMELLA 2.0 (n = 56) and 2.1 (n = 11) from December 2020 and December 2022 in a tertiary cardiac center were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 60.7 ± 11 years, 56 patients (84%) were male. CS aetiology was acute on chronic heart failure (n = 35, 52%), myocardial infarction (n = 13, 19.5%), postcardiotomy syndrome (n = 16, 24%) and myocarditis (n = 3, 4.5%). Preoperatively 31 patients (46%) were resuscitated, 53 (79%) were on a ventilator and 60 (90%) were on inotropic support. The median vasoactive inotropic score was 32, and the mean arterial lactate was 8.1 mmol/l. In 39 patients (58%), veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was explanted after a median ECMELLA support of 4 days. Myocardial recovery was achieved in 18 patients (27%), transition to a durable left ventricular assist device in 16 (24%). Thirty-three patients (n = 33; 49%) died on support (25 on ECMELLA and 8 on Impella after de-escalation), 9 (13%) of whom were palliated. Axillary access site bleeding occurred in 9 patients (13.5%), upper limb ischaemia requiring surgical revision in 3 (4.5%). Axillary site infection occurred in 6 cases (9%), and perioperative stroke in 10 (15%; 6 hemorrhagic, 4 thromboembolic). CONCLUSIONS: ECMELLA 2.0/2.1 is a feasible and effective therapy for severe CS. The single-artery cannulation technique is associated with a relatively low rate of access-related complications.

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Temporary mechanical circulatory support is a treatment of choice for patients in severe cardiogenic shock. Combining veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (ECLS) with devices that enable left ventricular unloading emerges as a promising strategy to diminish detrimental effect of elevated left ventricular afterload and to improve survival. However, the need to establish multiple arterial access sites remains a major drawback of this approach due to a significant rate of vascular complications. We describe herein a case of a single arterial access for ECLS and intra-aortic balloon pump using axillary artery that may provide a simple, modular and flexible approach for escalation or de-escalation of mechanical circulatory support.

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Mechanical circulatory support has proven effective in managing postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock by stabilizing patients' hemodynamics and ensuring adequate organ perfusion. Among the available device modalities, the combination of extracorporeal life support and a microaxial flow pump for left ventricular unloading has emerged as a valuable tool in the surgical armamentarium. In this publication, we provide recommendations for the application and weaning of temporary mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock patients, derived from a consensus among leading cardiac centers in German-speaking countries.

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OBJECTIVES: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is frequently observed in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation. We investigated the impact of preoperative MR on left ventricular assist device patients. METHODS: A retrospective propensity score-matched analysis of adult patients enrolled in the EUROMACS registry between 1 January 2011 and 30 November 2021 was performed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the grade of preoperative MR: none-to-mild (MR 0-II) or moderate-to-severe (MR III-IV). RESULTS: Following 1:1 propensity score matching, each group consisted of 914 patients. Incidence of postoperative temporary right ventricular support, reoperation for bleeding and dialysis was similar. MR III-IV demonstrated shorter median intensive care unit stay [14 days (6; 27.8) vs 10 days (5; 22), P = 0.004] and ventilation time [72 h (22, 320) vs 31 h (18, 150), P < 0.001]. Mortality was lower for MR III-IV patients [subdistribution hazard ratio: 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59-0.73, P < 0.001]. The 1-year survival was 68.1% (95% CI: 65.1-71.3%) in MR 0-II and 75% (95% CI: 72.1-78%) in MR III-IV. A lower incidence of total complications [odds ratio (OR): 0.93 (0.89-0.98), P = 0.003] and trend towards a lower risk of neurological dysfunction (subdistribution hazard ratio: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.61-1.01, P = 0.063) and sustained ventricular tachycardia [OR: 0.93 (0.54-1.03), P = 0.074] were demonstrated for MR III-IV. The risk of fatal stroke and pump thrombosis was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-to-severe MR in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation is associated with better mid-term survival and lower incidence of total major adverse events and complications. The incidence of severe postoperative complications including fatal stroke and device thrombosis was similar.

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BACKGROUND: Impella 5.0 and 5.5 (summarized as Impella 5+) are microaxial, catheter-based left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) that are implanted via a vascular graft sutured to the axillary artery and provide blood flow of up to 5.5 liter/min. This study aims to investigate the incidence of long-term complications following circulatory support with Impella 5+. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis of 203 consecutive adult patients treated between January 2017 and September 2021 with a surgically implanted Impella 5.0 or 5.5 via a vascular graft sutured to the axillary artery. RESULTS: The median Impella support duration was 8 days. Of 203 patients, 78 (38.4%) died while on temporary mechanical circulatory support. Fifty-five (27.1%) were successfully weaned from Impella 5+ and 70 (34.5%) were bridged to a durable LVAD with a median follow-up time of 232 (IQR 68.5, 597) days after Impella 5+ explantation. In 119 of these patients, the Impella was explanted and the vascular graft was shortened, ligated, and pushed under the pectoralis muscle; in 6 patients early graft infection prompted complete graft removal during explantation. In addition, 13 patients (10.9%) developed a late-onset graft infection after a median of 86 days, requiring complete (n = 10) or partial (n = 2) explantation of the retained graft. In 1 patient, the graft infection was successfully treated by conservative therapy. Our analysis identified no specific risk factors for graft infections. Of the 203 patients, 5 (2.5%) developed a brachial plexus injury resulting in neurological dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: In 10.9% of patients, retaining the vascular graft was complicated by a late graft infection. Complete explantation of the graft prosthesis may decrease the infection rate, but may in turn increase the risk of brachial plexus injury. On the other hand, this method offers the possibility of bedside explantation.

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Recently, temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) has been increasingly used for cardiogenic shock therapy. Originally designed as a bail-out option for patients who could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, the indications for tMCS have been expended and now enable us to support a wide range of patients with various cardiac pathologies. Modern tMCS devices include microaxial flow pumps (mAFP) which are small, versatile systems that can provide both acute cardiac support and cardiac protection for high-risk interventions. In this paper, we review different surgical implantation techniques with modern mAFP as well as specific aspects of preoperative indications and patient evaluation.

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A continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implant is a well-established therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure. Currently, the HeartMate 3 device is the only commercially available durable left ventricular assist device. Therefore, patients on HeartWare HVAD support who require a pump exchange must have a HeartMate 3 implanted.

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Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement has become a feasible approach to treat various aortic valve pathologies with limited procedural trauma. Several minimally invasive aortic valve replacement approaches with different levels of complexity and technical requirements are currently available.

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Temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) is a life-saving treatment option for patients in cardiogenic shock (CS), but many aspects such as patient selection, initiation threshold and optimal modality selection remain unclear. This study describes a standard operating procedure (SOP) for tMCS allocation for CS patients and presents outcome data before and after implementation. Data from 421 patients treated for CS with tMCS between 2018 and 2021 were analyzed. In 2019, we implemented a new SOP for allocating CS patients to tMCS modalities. The association between the time of SOP implementation and the 30-day and 1-year survival as well as hospital discharge was evaluated. Of the 421 patients included, 189 were treated before (pre-SOP group) and 232 after implementation of the new SOP (SOP group). Causes of CS included acute myocardial infarction (n = 80, 19.0%), acute-on-chronic heart failure in patients with dilated or chronic ischemic heart failure (n = 139, 33.0%), valvular cardiomyopathy (n = 14, 3.3%) and myocarditis (n = 5, 1.2%); 102 patients suffered from postcardiotomy CS (24.2%). The SOP group was further divided into an SOP-adherent (SOP-A) and a non-SOP-adherent group (SOP-NA). The hospital discharge rate was higher in the SOP group (41.7% vs. 29.7%), and treating patients according to the SOP was associated with an improved 30-day survival (56.9% vs. 38.9%, OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.01-4.80, p = 0.044). Patient allocation according to the presented SOP significantly improved 30-day survival.

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The introduction of the transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure has revolutionized the standards of care in patients with aortic valve pathologies and has significantly increased the quality of the medical treatment provided. The durability and constant technical improvements in the modern transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure have broadened the indications towards younger patient groups with low-risk profiles. Therefore, transcatheter aortic valve implantation now represents an effective alternative for surgical aortic valve replacement in a large number of cases. Currently, various technical methods for the transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure are available. The contemporary transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure focuses on optimization of postoperative results and reduction of complications such as paravalvular leakage and permanent pacemaker implantation. Another goal of transcatheter aortic valve implantation is the achievement of a valid lifetime concept with secure coronary access and conditions for future valve-in-valve interventions.  In this case report, we demonstrate a standard transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure with a self-expandable supra-annular device, one of the most commonly performed methods.

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Myocardial recovery occurs in approximately 5% of left ventricular assist device recipients. In selected patients, it is possible to electively perform left ventricular assist device explantation after accurate myocardial function recovery assessment. Several surgical approaches and techniques have been reported in the literature that focus on left ventricular assist device removal and preservation of left ventricular geometry. We provide a detailed step-by-step tutorial for continuous-flow left ventricular assist device explantation facilitated by the use of a manufactured titanium apical recovery plug.

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This paper presents the first transcatheter management of severe aortic regurgitation in a 77-year-old woman with a criss-cross heart-an extremely rare and complex congenital heart disease. The procedure achieved an elimination of aortic regurgitation and resulted in a remarkable improvement of the patient's physical condition. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

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Over the past few decades, the field of minimally invasive cardiac surgery has significantly broadened. Novel surgical and endovascular techniques have been developed for the treatment of aortic valve pathologies. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) through a right antero-lateral (mini-)thoracotomy (RALT) has gained approval due to its limited postoperative trauma, faster rehabilitation and sufficient pain control. Nevertheless, SAVR RALT has not been adopted by a significant proportion of cardiac surgeons, due, in part, to its technical complexity and steep learning curve. In this review, we discuss the data for minimally invasive aortic valve surgery and describe our operative technique for SAVR RALT.

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Various interventional and minimally invasive surgical approaches are currently available for the treatment of mitral valve pathologies. However, only a few of these options are applicable in patients with previously operated on mitral valves. In this case report, we provide detailed insight into the step-by-step guidance of a percutaneous transseptal transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implant under cerebral protection in a patient with a deteriorated surgically implanted mitral bioprosthesis.

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Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery has become a standardized and well-established approach to treat mitral valve disease and is associated with limited procedural trauma. Nevertheless, it remains a technically demanding procedure with a steep learning curve, and new manual skills need to be acquired. Various technical solutions have been adopted and implemented to overcome the challenges associated with this surgical technique. Endoaortic balloon occlusion was introduced as an alternative to the conventional external transthoracic cross-clamping of the aorta. In this video tutorial, we provide detailed insights into and step-by-step guidance for the endoaortic balloon occlusion procedure in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

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The introduction of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has dramatically improved the treatment of valvular pathologies in high-risk patients. Additionally, transcatheter aortic valve implantation can be successfully applied in patients with deteriorated surgical bioprosthetic valves, representing an attractive alternative to a redo operation. Valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantations can be especially challenging in patients with a small-diameter prosthesis and patient-prosthesis mismatch. Bioprosthetic valve fracturing or bioprosthetic valve remodeling can be used to increase the valvular opening area and additionally reduce the transvalvular gradients in patients having an aortic valve implant. In this case report, we provide detailed insight and step-by-step guidance for transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation with bioprosthetic valve fracturing/bioprosthetic valve remodeling under cerebral protection in a patient with a deteriorated 19-mm surgically implanted bioprosthesis.

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