Targeting Cell Death and DAMPs During Normothermic Perfusion to Improve Graft Outcomes
In Part two of his review published in Frontiers in Transplantation, Dr. Walter G. Land explores innovative strategies to improve transplant outcomes by targeting regulated cell death (RCD) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) during normothermic perfusion of donor organs. The review presents a conceptual framework in which injury-induced RCD leads to the release of DAMPs…
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Dual-Circulation EVLP Enhances Airway Preservation in Lung Transplantation
Aravind Krishnan and his team conducted a pioneering study to investigate the benefits of preserving bronchial artery perfusion during ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), a process typically used to assess and rehabilitate donor lungs before transplantation. In standard lung transplants, bronchial arteries are often sacrificed, leaving airways vulnerable to ischemic injury. The researchers developed a…
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Mitochondrial DNA Signals Linked to Aortic Valve Replacement Complications
A recent pilot study, led by Kieran Hyslop et al. and published in Scientific Reports, explored the potential role of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) as a predictor of postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Although AVR remains the standard and highly effective treatment for severe aortic valve disease, managing post-surgical…
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ECPELLA as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation in Post-MI VSD with Refractory Arrhythmias: A Novel Case Application
Dr. Max Frenkel and colleagues presented a unique case of using ECPELLA—a combination of Impella 5.5 and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO)—as a bridge to heart transplantation in a patient with a large post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal defect (VSD) and refractory ventricular arrhythmias. A 59-year-old male arrived with cardiogenic shock and was initially supported…
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Outcomes and Mortality Predictors in Postcardiotomy ECMO for Patients Aged 70 and Above
A retrospective study by Maged Makhoul and colleagues, published in JTCVS Open, examined the outcomes of postcardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (PC-ECMO) in older patients aged 70 years and above compared with younger patients. The analysis included 2057 patients treated between 2000 and 2020, of whom 33% were aged 70 or older. Results demonstrated that older…
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Ethical Challenges of NRP in Circulatory Death A 2025 Scoping Review
A 2025 scoping review titled “Ethical Issues in Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Controlled Organ Donation After Determination of Death by Circulatory Criteria” by Manara et al., published in Transplantation, offers a comprehensive evaluation of the ethical concerns surrounding Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) in the context of controlled donation after circulatory determination of death (cDCDD). The…
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Utilizing NIRS and Vascular Occlusion Test (VOT) to Predict Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): The Significance of Desaturation Speed (D-speed) in Cardiac Surgery Patients
The study by Ling Peng et al., published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, investigates the effectiveness of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with the Vascular Occlusion Test (VOT) in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). NIRS allows for non-invasive measurement of tissue oxygen saturation (StO2). At the…
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Predicting Pulmonary Edema Risks in Cardiac Surgery: The Role of Lung Compliance and Airway Resistance
The article: “Predictive value of respiratory mechanics for the risk of unilateral pulmonary edema following minimally invasive cardiac surgery: An observational study” by Qiaolian Fan, published in Medicine, investigates the predictive value of static lung compliance (SLC) and airway resistance (AR) for anticipating unilateral pulmonary edema (UPE) in patients undergoing minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS)….
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ECMO with ProtekDuo Cannula as a Bridge to Lung Transplantation: a Single-Center Case Series
The article by Yuriy Stukov et al., published in the Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia, comprehensively reviews the use of the ProtekDuo cannula in Veno-Pulmonary (VP) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to lung transplantation. The study is a retrospective case series from a single center, focusing on the efficacy of VP ECMO in managing…
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Immediate Clinical Complications of Membrane Changes in VV-ECMO Patients
This detailed study: “Immediate Clinical Complications Occurring During Membrane Change in Patients on Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation” by Masi Paul et al. from ASAIO Journal, examines the clinical outcomes associated with membrane changes in patients treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The primary aim was to evaluate…
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Cholesterol: A New Indicator of Survival in VA ECMO Patients with Cardiogenic Shock
A recent study by Maarten de Haan and colleagues, published in Perfusion, investigated the potential of cholesterol levels as a prognostic marker for intensive care unit (ICU) survival in patients suffering from cardiogenic shock and treated with Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA ECMO). This life-saving technique is often used as a bridge to recovery, heart…
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Reevaluating the Role of P-Terminal Force in Predicting New Onset Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After On-Pump Cardiac Surgery
In the detailed study by Mirjana Gander et al., published in the Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, the relationship between new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and the p-terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1) following on-pump cardiac surgeries is examined. POAF is a significant postoperative complication that heightens both morbidity and mortality rates in patients…
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