Social:

Facebook Instagram Linkedin
IPA

Logo

Heart to Heart Mission

For more than 20 years, the IPA has performed life-saving heart surgery on over 400 patients in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Read More
Logo

Ecuador Mission

The IPA is working with Harvard / MGH to expand their heart surgery mission program in Ecuador. We have a mission trip planned for October 2026. Stay tuned for more information.

Read More
Logo

Your Mission Trip

The IPA will gladly make donations to qualified charitable organizations who perform cardiac surgery mission work for patients in need.

Read More

700+ Patients

Help Mend a Heart!

Every member of our team is an unpaid volunteer, so please take comfort in knowing that 100% of all donated funds go directly to patient care. Your generosity is so very welcome and will help save lives!
Make a Donation

— Latest News —

Optimizing Oxygen During Bypass

Indexed Delivery of Oxygen Predicts In-Hospital Mortality and Morbidity in Reoperative Adult Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study 

This retrospective cohort study of 343 reoperative cardiac surgery patients found that low indexed oxygen delivery (DO₂i) during cardiopulmonary bypass independently predicted in-hospital mortality and major morbidity. A median DO₂i below 289 mL/min/m² was associated with a fourfold increase in mortality risk, higher rates of acute kidney injury, cardiac complications, and prolonged ventilation. Optimizing intraoperative oxygen delivery may improve outcomes in this high-risk population.

READ MORE
February 20, 2026
Emergency Repair of a Rupturing Ascending Aorta

Circulatory Arrest Time Above 30 Minutes Has Significantly Detrimental Effects on the Outcomes of Type A Aortic Dissection Repair

This retrospective study of 109 patients undergoing emergent type A aortic dissection repair found that deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) times exceeding 30 minutes were associated with significantly higher 30-day mortality, 12-month mortality, and postoperative stroke rates. Cerebral perfusion strategy did not alter stroke risk. The findings suggest that limiting circulatory arrest to under 30 minutes may improve survival and neurological outcomes. 

READ MORE
February 20, 2026
The Evolving Role of the ECMO Perfusionist

Redefining the Role of Perfusionists in ECMO: From Technical Operators to Clinical Stakeholders

This letter to the editor argues that perfusionists in ECMO programs should move beyond a narrowly defined technical role and be formally integrated as clinical stakeholders. The authors highlight perfusionists’ expertise in circuit management, anticoagulation, device troubleshooting, and physiology, advocating for their inclusion in ICU rounds, decision-making, quality improvement, and research. Greater integration could improve safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes in complex ECMO care.

READ MORE
February 19, 2026
High-Exchange Ultrafiltration During Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Bypass

High-Exchange Ultrafiltration to Enhance Recovery After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: The ULTRA Randomized Controlled Trial

The ULTRA randomized controlled trial evaluated whether high-exchange subzero-balance ultrafiltration (H-SBUF) during pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass improves recovery compared with low-exchange SBUF. In 104 children under 15 kg, high-exchange ultrafiltration did not reduce peak postoperative vasoactive-ventilation-renal (VVR) scores or improve clinical outcomes. Inflammatory mediator profiles were largely similar, suggesting limited immunomodulatory benefit.

READ MORE
February 18, 2026
Heart Transplantation Graft Survival Following Donation

Heart Transplantation Graft Survival Following Donation After Circulatory Death via Thoracoabdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion

This national cohort study analyzed adult heart transplants in the United States from 2020–2024 to compare graft survival among donation after circulatory death (DCD) using thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP), DCD with direct procurement and perfusion (DPP), and donation after brain death (DBD). Two-year graft and patient survival were comparable across groups, supporting broader use of TA-NRP in heart transplantation.

READ MORE
February 18, 2026
Balancing Bleeding and Clotting: Anticoagulation Strategies During ECMO Support

Efficacy of Reduced-Intensity or No Heparin Versus Standard Heparin Anticoagulation in Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysiS

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies (958 ECMO patients) compared reduced-intensity or no heparin anticoagulation with standard heparin strategies. Low/no heparin significantly reduced bleeding complications (OR 0.49) without increasing thrombotic events or in-hospital mortality. Transfusion requirements showed no significant difference. Findings support individualized anticoagulation strategies, though high-quality randomized trials remain needed.

READ MORE
February 17, 2026
Load More
No more posts to show