Outcomes of Heart Failure Hospitalizations at Urban Teaching vs. Non-Teaching Hospitals: A Nationwide Propensity Score Matched Analysis in the United States

February 26, 2026 No Comments

This nationwide propensity-matched study of 7.5 million U.S. heart failure hospitalizations (2016–2022) found that urban teaching hospitals had higher inpatient mortality, complication rates, length of stay, costs, and palliative care consultations compared with urban non-teaching hospitals. Despite worse in-hospital outcomes, 30- and 90-day readmission rates were similar. Findings likely reflect referral bias and greater illness severity at teaching centers rather than differences in care quality.

Expanding the Donor Pool: Rethinking Time to Death in DCD Liver Transplantation

Donor Time to Death and DCD Liver Transplant Outcomes: Challenging the Dogma That Shorter Is Better

February 23, 2026 No Comments

This large UNOS registry study of 8,489 DCD liver transplants (2010–2024) found that shorter donor time to death (TTD) was associated with worse graft survival, while prolonged TTD did not negatively impact outcomes—even without normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). Despite this, liver utilization declined sharply after 15 minutes of TTD. Simulation modeling showed that avoiding TTD-based decline could increase utilization by 17%, potentially adding hundreds of safe transplants.

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

February 20, 2026 No Comments

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.

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

February 18, 2026 No Comments

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.

Restoring Life to the Liver: Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Modern Transplantation

Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Controlled Donation After Circulatory Death: Growing Evidence for Liver Transplantation

February 7, 2026 No Comments

Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) is reshaping controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) liver transplantation. By restoring oxygenated blood flow after death declaration, NRP reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury, lowers rates of early allograft dysfunction and biliary complications, and delivers graft and patient survival comparable to donation after brain death. This review synthesizes expanding global evidence supporting NRP as a new standard.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Limb Ischaemia in Adult Patients Receiving Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

February 6, 2026 No Comments

Limb ischaemia is a serious complication of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). This systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies involving 2,812 adults found a pooled limb ischaemia incidence of 16.9%. Peripheral arterial disease, unsuccessful percutaneous cannulation, and shorter patient height were significant risk factors, underscoring the need for early risk identification and preventive strategies in ECMO care.

Selective Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory Death Transplantation

Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory Death Lung Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

February 5, 2026 No Comments

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated whether ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) improves outcomes in donation after circulatory death (DCD) lung transplantation. Across five observational studies including 654 patients, EVLP showed no significant differences in grade 3 primary graft dysfunction, ICU or hospital length of stay, short-term survival, pneumonia, or acute rejection compared with direct transplantation. Findings support selective rather than routine EVLP use.

Determination of Insensible Water Loss and Sodium Accumulation Behavior from the Medtronic Nautilus ECMO Oxygenator: An In Vitro Study

January 28, 2026 No Comments

This in vitro study examined insensible water loss and sodium accumulation in the Medtronic Nautilus ECMO oxygenator. Using varying sweep gas rates over 24 hours, researchers found a strong linear relationship between sweep gas flow and fluid loss. The rate was approximately 72.5 mL/day per 1 L/min sweep gas. Sodium accumulation was observed but not statistically confirmed due to sample size. These findings are critical for managing fluid balance and hypernatremia risk in ECMO patients.

Impact of Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Gastrointestinal Complications in Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

April 17, 2025 No Comments

This retrospective cohort study assessed the effect of prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB ≥ 120 minutes) on gastrointestinal complications (GICs) after cardiac surgery. Analyzing 1,444 patients and using propensity score matching, the study found a significantly higher rate of GICs in the prolonged CPB group. Key risk factors included hypertension, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and undergoing aortic surgery.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Monitor Cerebral and Renal Oxygen Saturation During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery for Paediatric Congenital Heart Disease: Study Protocol for a Prospective Observational Cohort Trial

April 10, 2025 No Comments

This BMJ Open study outlines a prospective cohort trial evaluating near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to monitor cerebral and renal oxygen saturation during pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. It aims to link intraoperative oxygenation levels with postoperative brain and kidney injuries, assessing outcomes with biomarkers and quality-of-life metrics. Findings could improve organ injury prediction and perioperative care in congenital heart disease surgeries.