The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Aug 2010
Prostacyclin administration errors in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients admitted to hospitals in the United States: a national survey.
Epoprostenol and treprostinil are intravenous prostacyclin medications used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This survey explored hospital policies regarding prostacyclin infusions, and investigated the type and frequency of errors that occurred in the inpatient setting. ⋯ These findings suggest that prostacyclin infusion therapy is problematic and that an opportunity exists to improve safety. The development of standardized treatment guidelines should be considered.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Aug 2010
Case ReportsSuccessful bilateral lung transplantation in a patient with end-stage lung disease and positive novel influenza virus (H1N1).
In 2009, a pandemic novel influenza virus (H1N1) outbreak was declared by the World Health Organization and resulted in significant worldwide illness. This report describes a 50-year-old male with end-stage lung disease secondary to alpha(1)-anti-trypsin deficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was admitted for potential bilateral lung transplantation when suitable organs became available. ⋯ In the immediate post-operative period his nasopharyngeal swab came back positive for H1N1 influenza virus. Then, post-operatively, two consecutive bronchoalveolar lavage samples from the transplanted lungs were found to be positive for H1N1 virus. He received three-weeks of antiviral treatment post-operatively and he had uneventful procedure with favorable outcome.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Jul 2010
Case ReportsMinimally invasive, off-pump explant of a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device.
The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has been used successfully for bridge to transplant and destination therapy. In some cases, myocardial recovery is possible and allows LVAD explantation. We describe a novel explant technique for the HeartMate II LVAD using small incisions on a beating heart, without cardiopulmonary bypass.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Jul 2010
Increased net gelatinase but not serine protease activity in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.
Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the main long-term complication after lung transplantation. Previous studies indicate that neutrophil mobilization causes high protease concentrations in the lung allograft during BOS. This study assessed net protease activity and the functional aspect of proteases in BOS. ⋯ Our study supports that there is an unopposed increase in gelatinase activity in BOS, which in part is likely to be accounted for by MMP-9 from local neutrophils. No corresponding evidence was found for serine protease activity.