This medical illustration juxtaposes the organic complexity of the human body with the stark, mechanical precision of the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart, and highlighting its seamless integration into the atria and great vessels. Warm red tones and organic textures evoke the living pulse of the body, thereby creating a striking contrast to the engineered nature of the mechanical heart.

Visual abstract presenting main article structure, objective, research methodology, and results.

We optimized the outflow cannulation of the previously established novel total artificial heart—the ShuttlePump and evaluated its anatomical compatibility in adult heart failure patients using virtual implantation techniques. Successful implantation was achieved in 9/11 patients, and identified anatomical predictors showed a strong correlation. In addition, computational fluid dynamics evaluation of the ShuttlePump with modified outflow cannulation did not compromise hemocompatibility metrics.

Visual abstract presenting the methodology and summary of the results.

The timing of PMX-DHP initiation from the vasopressor peak was one of the important factors to have an impact on mortality. PMX-DHP would be one of the options available for elevating blood pressure in septic shock, and its inappropriate initiation may not improve the outcome.

Compared with standard ice cold storage, controlled hypothermia seems to prevent severe primary graft dysfunction and to provide better graft preservation in high risk recipient.

Four different types of stent geometries were proposed for cardiovascular applications to improve mechanical properties of poly-L-lactic acid bioresorbable stents. Five key mechanical tests were evaluated, including radial strength, crimping profile, flexibility, elastic recoil, and foreshortening. M2 and M3 would be a suitable option for employing poly-L-lactic acid bioresorbable stents: M2 with high flexibility and sufficient radial strength would be preferred for complex lesions, and M3 advantageous in radial elastic recoil would be an optimum selection for mild target sites.

Summary of the in-vitro ring tensile tests (left) and clinical cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment of Berlin Heart EXCOR pediatric cannula infection (right).

The SynCardia® TAH is the preferred device for biventricular support in patients unsuitable for other devices. Median support duration was 96 days, with survival rates of 72%, 41%, and 34% at 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively, and successful bridge to transplantation occurred in 35.2% of patients, with post-transplant survival rates of 65%, 58%, and 51% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Given the extremely poor preoperative clinical status, a third of patients were successfully bridged to transplantation.

Report of mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock patients during the peripartum period.

Aortic regurgitation (AR) frequently occurs after left ventricular assist device implantation with aortic root dilatation being one potential pathomechanism. In patients after HeartMate 3 implantation, no significant aortic dilatation could be found by echocardiography and CT angiogram, thus, favoring a valvular pathomechanism causing AR.

The impact of convective clearance offered by on-line haemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) on intra-dialytic potassium removal is unknown. We included 141 patients from a single centre with 21 treated with high-flux haemodialysis (HD) and 120 with OL-HDF. Patients on OL-HDF and HD has similar intra-dialytic potassium removal. Factors associated with intra-dialytic potassium removal were dialysate potassium, pre-HD serum potassium and session time. In OL-HDF patients, substitution flow was not associated with potassium removal. Consequently, in chronic dialysis patients, convective therapy provided by OL-HDF does not significantly affect potassium removal when compared to high-flux HD.

This paper aims firstly to assess the hemocompatibility of an innovative solution for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, based on the use of a mechanical circulatory support device. Secondly, design improvements are proposed to reduce blood trauma within this device, which is operating at low flow rates in comparison with standard support devices.

During venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, right lower extremity congestion occurred due to the insertion of a drain cannula. We effectively managed leg congestion by inserting an additional catheter into the ipsilateral superficial femoral vein.