Intraoperative open chest epicardial high-density mapping and ablation for refractory ventricular tachycardia at time of magnetically levitated left ventricular assist device implantation.
Intraoperative open chest epicardial high-density mapping and ablation for refractory ventricular tachycardia at time of magnetically levitated left ventricular assist device implantation.
Project description:A patient with history of dilated cardiomyopathy, a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, and endocardial ablation presented for refractory ventricular tachycardia 3 years after implantation of a Jarvik 2000 left ventricular assist device (Jarvik Heart, Inc., New York, New York). Open-chest epicardial ablation safely and effectively terminated the arrhythmia, without ventricular tachycardia recurrence at 9-month follow-up and in the absence of complications during the hospital stay. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).
Project description:Data on relative safety, efficacy, and role of different percutaneous left ventricular assist devices for hemodynamic support during the ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation procedure are limited.We performed a multicenter, observational study from a prospective registry including all consecutive patients (N=66) undergoing VT ablation with a percutaneous left ventricular assist devices in 6 centers in the United States. Patients with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP group; N=22) were compared with patients with either an Impella or a TandemHeart device (non-IABP group; N=44). There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between both the groups. In non-IABP group (1) more patients could undergo entrainment/activation mapping (82% versus 59%; P=0.046), (2) more number of unstable VTs could be mapped and ablated per patient (1.05±0.78 versus 0.32±0.48; P<0.001), (3) more number of VTs could be terminated by ablation (1.59±1.0 versus 0.91±0.81; P=0.007), and (4) fewer VTs were terminated with rescue shocks (1.9±2.2 versus 3.0±1.5; P=0.049) when compared with IABP group. Complications of the procedure trended to be more in the non-IABP group when compared with those in the IABP group (32% versus 14%; P=0.143). Intermediate term outcomes (mortality and VT recurrence) during 12±5-month follow-up were not different between both groups. Left ventricular ejection fraction ?15% was a strong and independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (53% versus 4%; P<0.001).Impella and TandemHeart use in VT ablation facilitates extensive activation mapping of several unstable VTs and requires fewer rescue shocks during the procedure when compared with using IABP.
Project description:Background The usual approach to epicardial access in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy and megacolon is surgical access to avoid bowel injury. However, there are concerns regarding its safety in cases of Chagas cardiomyopathy with reports of prolonged mechanical ventilation and high mortality in this clinical setting. The aim of this study was to examine feasibility and complication rates for ventricular tachycardia ablation performed with laparoscopic-guided epicardial access. Methods and Results This single center study examined complication rates of the first 11 cases of ventricular tachycardia ablation in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy, using laparoscopic guidance to access epicardial space. All 11 patients underwent epicardial VT ablation using laparoscopic-guided epicardial access, and the complication rates were compared with historical medical reports. The main demographic features of our population were age, 63±13 years; men, 82%; and median ejection fraction, 31% (Q1=30% and Q3=46%). All patients were sent for ventricular tachycardia ablation because of medical therapy failure. The reason for laparoscopy was megacolon in 10 patients and massive liver enlargement in 1 patient. Epicardial access was achieved in all patients. Complications included 1 severe cardiogenic shock and 1 phrenic nerve paralysis. No intra-abdominal organ injury occurred; only 1 death, which was caused by progressive heart failure, was reported more than 1 month after the procedure. Conclusions Laparoscopic-guided epicardial access in the setting of ventricular tachycardia ablation and enlarged intra-abdominal organ is a simple alternative to more complex surgical access and can be performed with low complication rates.
Project description:BackgroundSevere right ventricular failure (RVF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation increases morbidity and mortality. We investigated the association between intraoperative right heart hemodynamic data, echocardiographic parameters, and severe versus nonsevere RVF.MethodsA review of LVAD patients between March 2013 and March 2016 was performed. Severe RVF was defined by the need for a right ventricular mechanical support device, inotropic, and/or inhaled pulmonary vasodilator requirements for >14 days. From a chart review, the right ventricular failure risk score was calculated and right heart hemodynamic data were collected. Pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) [(pulmonary artery systolic pressure - pulmonary artery diastolic pressure)/central venous pressure (CVP)] was calculated for 2 periods: (1) 30 minutes before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and (2) after chest closure. Echocardiographic data were recorded pre-CPB and post-CPB by a blinded reviewer. Univariate logistic regression models were used to examine the performance of hemodynamic and echocardiographic metrics.ResultsA total of 110 LVAD patients were identified. Twenty-five did not meet criteria for RVF. Of the remaining 85 patients, 28 (33%) met criteria for severe RVF. Hemodynamic factors associated with severe RVF included: higher CVP values after chest closure (18 ± 9 vs 13 ± 5 mm Hg; P = .0008) in addition to lower PAPi pre-CPB (1.2 ± 0.6 vs 1.7 ± 1.0; P = .04) and after chest closure (0.9 ± 0.5 vs 1.5 ± 0.8; P = .0008). Post-CPB echocardiographic findings associated with severe RVF included: larger right atrial diameter major axis (5.4 ± 0.9 vs 4.9 ± 1.0 cm; P = .03), larger right ventricle end-systolic area (22.6 ± 8.4 vs 18.5 ± 7.9 cm; P = .03), lower fractional area of change (20.2 ± 10.8 vs 25.9 ± 12.6; P = .04), and lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (0.9 ± 0.2 vs 1.1 ± 0.3 cm; P = .008). Right ventricular failure risk score was not a significant predictor of severe RVF. Post-chest closure CVP and post-chest closure PAPi discriminated severe from nonsevere RVF better than other variables measured, each with an area under the curve of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.64-0.86).ConclusionsPost-chest closure values of CVP and PAPi were significantly associated with severe RVF. Echocardiographic assessment of RV function post-CPB was weakly associated with severe RVF.
Project description:ImportanceAlthough durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy has emerged as an important treatment option for patients with advanced heart failure refractory to pharmacological support, outcomes, including survival, beyond 2 years remain poorly characterized.ObjectiveTo report the composite end point of survival to transplant, recovery, or LVAD support free of debilitating stroke (Modified Rankin Scale score >3) or reoperation to replace the pump 5 years after the implant in participants who received the fully magnetically levitated centrifugal-flow HeartMate 3 or axial-flow HeartMate II LVAD in the MOMENTUM 3 randomized trial and were still receiving LVAD therapy at the 2-year follow-up.Design, setting, and participantsThis observational study was a 5-year follow-up of the MOMENTUM 3 trial, conducted in 69 US centers, that demonstrated superiority of the centrifugal-flow LVAD to the axial-flow pump with respect to survival to transplant, recovery, or LVAD support free of debilitating stroke or reoperation to replace the pump at 2 years. A total of 295 patients were enrolled between June 2019 to April 2021 in the extended-phase study, with 5-year follow-up completed in September 2021.ExposuresOf 1020 patients in the investigational device exemption per-protocol population, 536 were still receiving LVAD support at 2 years, of whom 289 received the centrifugal-flow pump and 247 received the axial-flow pump.Main outcomes and measuresThere were 10 end points evaluated at 5 years in the per-protocol population, including a composite of survival to transplant, recovery, or LVAD support free of debilitating stroke or reoperation to replace the pump between the centrifugal-flow and axial-flow pump groups and overall survival between the 2 groups.ResultsA total of 477 patients (295 enrolled and 182 provided limited data) of 536 patients still receiving LVAD support at 2 years contributed to the extended-phase analysis (median age, 62 y; 86 [18%] women). The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival to transplant, recovery, or LVAD support free of debilitating stroke or reoperation to replace the pump in the centrifugal-flow vs axial-flow group was 54.0% vs 29.7% (hazard ratio, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.45-0.67]; P < .001). Overall Kaplan-Meier survival was 58.4% in the centrifugal-flow group vs 43.7% in the axial-flow group (hazard ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.58-0.89]; P = .003). Serious adverse events of stroke, bleeding, and pump thrombosis were less frequent in the centrifugal-flow pump group.Conclusions and relevanceIn this observational follow-up study of patients from the MOMENTUM 3 randomized trial, per-protocol analyses found that receipt of a fully magnetically levitated centrifugal-flow LVAD vs axial-flow LVAD was associated with a better composite outcome and higher likelihood of overall survival at 5 years. These findings support the use of the fully magnetically levitated LVAD.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02224755 and NCT03982979.
Project description:Background Mapping using a multipolar catheter with small and closely spaced electrodes has been shown to improve the validity of electrograms to identify endocardial critical sites of reentry isthmus and foci of earliest activation. However, the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcome of using such technology to guide epicardial ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation has not been reported. Methods and Results Thirty-three consecutive patients from 5 high-volume centers were studied. These patients had 43 epicardial maps using a novel 64-pole mini-basket catheter to guide VT ablation. Activation maps with 17 832 points per map (interquartile range: 7621-32 497 points per map) were acquired in 11 patients with tolerated VT (7 focal, 4 reentry). Substrate maps with 40149 points per map (interquartile range: 20926-49391 points per map) were acquired in 30 patients. Local abnormal ventricular activities were consistently demonstrated at the substrate regions of interest. Epicardial ablation was performed in 31 of 33 patients, with acute VT termination in 10 of 11 patients (91%). Complete elimination of local abnormal ventricular activities was achieved in 25 of 31 patients. At a median follow-up of 10 months (interquartile range: 4-14 months), 64% (7/11) of patients who had acute termination of VT and 55% (11/20) of those who had substrate modification alone were free of VT. There was no immediate complication following epicardial procedure. Conclusions Epicardial VT ablation guided by a mini-basket catheter is feasible and safe. Complete reentry VT circuits and foci of earliest activation were identified in all inducible stable VT. The longer term clinical outcome of ablation guided by this novel mapping technology utilizing small and closely spaced electrodes will have to be determined with a larger study.
Project description:Chest tubes are utilized to evacuate shed blood after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, however, they can become clogged, leading to retained blood. We implemented a protocol for active tube clearance (ATC) of chest tubes to determine if this might reduce interventions for retained blood. A total of 252 patients underwent LVAD implantation. Seventy-seven patients had conventional chest tube drainage (group 1), whereas 175 patients had ATC (group 2). A univariate and multivariate analysis adjusting for the use of conventional sternotomy (CS) and minimally invasive left thoracotomy (MILT) was performed. Univariate analysis revealed a 65% reduction in re-exploration (43-15%, p < 0.001), and an 82% reduction in delayed sternal closure (DSC; 34-6%, p <0.001). In a sub-analysis of CS only, there continued to be statistically significant 53% reduction in re-exploration (45% vs. 21%, p = 0.0011), and a 77% reduction in DSC (35% vs. 8%, p < 0.001) in group 2. Using a logistic regression model adjusting for CS versus MILT, there was a significant reduction in re-exploration (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44 [confidence interval {CI} = 0.23-0.85], p = 0.014) and DSC (OR = 0.20 [CI = 0.08-0.46], p <0.001) in group 2. Actively maintaining chest tube patency after LVAD implantation significantly reduces re-exploration and DSC.
Project description:BackgroundAspirin (ASA) anti-platelet therapy is mandated with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) to prevent hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAEs). However, the optimal dose of ASA with HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVAD is unknown.MethodsIn an exploratory analysis of HM3-supported patients in the MOMENTUM 3 study (NCT02224755), 2 groups were analyzed: usual-dose (325 mg) and low-dose (81 mg) ASA with anti-coagulation targeted to an international normalized ratio of 2.0 to 3.0. Exclusion criteria included patients not receiving either ASA 81 mg or 325 mg, those with HRAEs ≤7 days after device implantation, and those receiving >1 anti-platelet agent. The primary end-point was survival free from HRAEs (non-surgical bleeding, pump thrombosis, stroke, and peripheral arterial thromboembolic events) at 2 years.ResultsOverall, 321 HM3 patients (usual-dose: n = 141, low-dose: n = 180) were included in this analysis. Usual-dose group patients were younger (57 ± 13 vs 60 ± 12 years, p = 0.035) and less often assigned destination therapy (55% vs 67%, p = 0.029) than low-dose ASA. At 2 years, a similar proportion of patients in the usual- and low-dose groups (43.4% vs 45.3%, p = 0.94) met the primary end-point. There were no differences in survival free from hemorrhagic (usual-dose: 54.4% vs low-dose: 51.7%, p = 0.42) or thrombotic (usual-dose: 76.8% vs low-dose: 75.7%, p = 0.92) events.ConclusionsUsual- and low-dose ASA revealed similar rates of bleeding and thrombotic events in HM3 LVAD-supported patients within the MOMENTUM 3 trial. Whether ASA therapy provides any meaningful therapeutic effect in patients treated by the HM3 LVAD remains to be determined.