Cardiology Commons^™

Transcutaneous Energy Transmission: Can We Do It Now?, Yuriy Pya

The VAD Journal

The percutaneous driveline used in contemporary LVADs presents a continuous risk of infection for the duration of support. Minimizing infection in durable mechanical circulatory support systems requires total implantation of all components and energy transfer by means other than percutaneous drivelines. A novel coplanar energy transfer (CET) system, similar to the original transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) design, is unique by incorporating two large rings with coil-within-the-coil topology to ensure strong resonance power. The CET system consists of an internal integrated controller, a battery coupled with an internal thoracic coil ring, and the LVAD pump. External equipment includes a power transmission …

What Did We Learn About Vads In 2019?, Maya Guglin

The VAD Journal

This is our 6th annual literature review on mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices.

Our previous reports for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 were published as open access articles and were well received by the readers. In this paper, we summarize the most interesting and important, from our standpoint, publications from 2019. As we have done for the past two years, a section on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is included and primarily addresses new developments in veno-arterial ECMO use.

Exploring The “Weekend Effect” On The Care Of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices, Gbolahan O. Ogunbayo, Le Dung Ha, Naoki Misumida, Ayman Elbadawi, Qamar Ahmad, Remi Okwechime, Deborah Akanya, Andrew Kolodziej, Claude S. Elayi, Maya E. Guglin

The VAD Journal

Many studies have described differences in in-hospital outcomes and length of stay between patients treated for major cardiac conditions on weekdays versus weekends.¹ Our study aimed to explore the “weekend effect” on in-hospital care among patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Using data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, with a weighted estimate of more than 35 million admissions per year.² We identified patients 18 years or older with an ICD code signifying presence of a LVAD. Characteristics, comorbidities and clinical outcomes were compared between patients admitted on a weekend versus patients admitted on a weekday. The …

Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation For Cardiogenic Shock: A Retrospective Analysis Based On The Etiology Of Shock, Andrew Burchett, Thomas Tribble, Richard Charnigo, Susan Smyth, Maya Guglin

The VAD Journal

Abstract:

Background: We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the efficacy of VA-ECMO support in cardiogenic shock based on various etiologies.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 99 patients supported with VA-ECMO from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2015. Outcomes included survival to discontinuation of VA-ECMO support and survival to hospital discharge. The etiologies of cardiogenic shock included cardiac arrest (CPR), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary embolism (PE), right ventricular failure (RVF) not secondary to an acute pulmonary embolism, and post-cardiotomy syndrome (PCS). The PCS group was used as a reference group; odds ratios were estimated …

Old Dog, New Tricks - Usefulness Of The Ecg In Monitoring Acute Rejection Post Cardiac Transplantation, Paul Anaya, Samy-Claude Elayi

The VAD Journal

Electrocardiographic abnormalities have been described in the setting of acute rejection following orthotopic cardiac transplantation. The following is a brief commentary related to an interesting case report by Goldraich et al. which was recently published in the VAD Journal.