Impact of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors on right ventricular function and exercise capacity after left ventricular assist-device implantation: the PIVAD study

Background

Long-term therapy with oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5I) is frequently implemented after left ventricular assist-device (LVAD) implantation to improve hemodynamics and prevent late-onset right ventricular (RV) failure or to facilitate listing for heart transplantation in individuals with persistent pulmonary hypertension. The safety and efficacy of this appoach has not been prospectively studied. Recent analyses of the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) demonstrated improved survival for patients under long-term PDE5I after 48 months but higher incidence of early postoperative RV failure as well as a higher risk for gastrointestinal bleeding.

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of discontinuation of PDE5I in patients on LVAD support.

Methods

In this prospective, single-arm, interventional study we enrolled LVAD recipients on oral PDE5I (sildenafil or tadalafil) after at least 1 month post-implant who were clinically stable on optimal medical therapy. The patients underwent physical examination, ECG, 6-minute walking test, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, transthoracic echocardiography, LVAD interrogation, questionnaire based evaluation of quality of life and testing of serum biomarkers at baseline and 4 weeks after discontinuation of oral PDE5I therapy.

Results

From 10/2019 to 02/2021 thirty patiens were included in the study and completed the follow-up. Mean age was 54 years, 90% were male. Destination therapy was the primary treatment goal in 13% of this cohort while 87% received LVAD as a bridge to transplant. Mean dosis of tadalafil was 24.6 mg, of sildenafil 42.5 mg. At follow-up no significant changes were elicited in echocardiographic markers of RV function, peak oxygen consumption, VE/VCO2 slope, eGFR, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration, quality of life and average flow and power readings of the device but mild increase in walking distance (Table 1). Two patients were hospitalized for non-cardiac reasons (subtherapeutic INR, driveline infection). No patient was hospitalized for cardiac decompensation.

Conclusion

Discontinuation of PDE5I was not associated with deterioration of RV function, exercise capacity and quality of life after 4 weeks. The risk/benefit profile of PDE5I in LVAD patients needs to be further investigated in context of randomized controlled trials.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Table 1

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): An Option for Cardiac Reccovery from Advanced Cardiogenic Shock

Mechanical circulatory support can prevent multi-organ failure and death in patients with advanced cardiogenic shock. Here we describe our experience using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for treatment of advanced cardiogenic shock which has been used by our team for daily routine care in more than 200 patients during the last five years at the Penn State Medical Center.Venoarterial (VA) ECMO has been used as a viable therapeutic option for advanced cardiogenic shock as a bridge to recovery (BTR) or bridge to next decision (BTD). Our group performed a retrospective review of data from 155 patients from our single center cohort treated with VA ECMO for advanced cardiogenic shock. After successful ECMO treatment, the one year survival rate of patients with ischemic heart disease was 73.7 %, and the one year survival for patients with non-ischemic heart disease was 75%.

Transplantationsmedizin in der Intensivmedizin

Die Betreuung von Patienten vor und nach einer Organtransplantation gehört zum Gebiet der „speziellen Intensivmedizin“ des jeweiligen Fachbereichs. Die transplantationsspezifische Intensivmedizin setzt daher ein interdisziplinäres Management voraus. Neben der Organprotektion bzw. dem Monitoring von speziellen transplantationsrelevanten Problemen steht die Immunsuppression. Auf das Management mit Immunsuppressiva und von transplantationsassoziierten, intensivmedizinisch relevanten Problemen wird in diesem Kapitel eingegangen. Speziell werden Herz-, Lungen-, Leber-, Nieren- und Stammzelltransplantationen dargestellt.

Heart transplantation as salvage therapy for progressive prosthetic valve endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE)

Background

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) has the highest in-hospital mortality among all cases of infective endocarditis (IE), it is estimated at about 40 %. Orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) as a measure of last resort, may be considered in selected cases where repeated surgical procedures and conservative efforts have failed to eradicate persistent or recurrent IE. Only few clinical data are available regarding this rare indication for OHT, since active IE has traditionally been considered as a contraindication for OHT.

Case presentation

We report on a 55 year old male patient who underwent prosthetic valve replacement with a mechanical valved conduit ten years ago and developed now persistent PVE with severe complications due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). Repeated surgical procedures and conservative efforts have failed to eradicate the pathogen. Regarding the lack of curative options, salvage OHT was discussed as a measure of last resort. 28 months after the first diagnosis of PVE, the patient was successfully transplanted and is now doing well under close follow-up (6 months post-OHT).

Conclusions

PVE remains a challenging condition regarding diagnosis and treatment. The presented case underscores the urgent need for an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to patients with suspected and definitive IE - especially in PVE. OHT might be a feasible measure of last resort in selected patients with IE. Our case report adds published clinical experience to this rarely performed procedure and consolidates previous findings.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13019-016-0505-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.