Unrepairable congenital heart valve disease is an unsolved problem in pediatric cardiac surgery because there are no growing heart valve implants. Partial heart transplantation is a new type of transplant that aims to solve this problem. In order to study the unique transplant biology of partial heart transplantation, animal models are necessary. This study aimed to assess the morbidity and mortality of heterotopic partial heart transplantation in rodent models. This study assessed two models. The first model involved transplanting heart valves from donor animals into the abdominal aortic position in the recipient animals. The second model involved transplanting heart valve leaflets into the renal subcapsular position of the recipient animals. A total of 33 animals underwent heterotopic partial heart transplantation in the abdominal aortic position. The results of this model found a 60.61% (n = 20/33) intraoperative mortality rate and a 39.39% (n = 13/33) perioperative mortality rate. Intraoperative mortality was due to vascular complications from the procedure, and perioperative mortality was due to graft thrombosis. A total of 33 animals underwent heterotopic partial heart transplantation in the renal subcapsular position. The results of this model found a 3.03% (n = 1/33) intraoperative mortality rate, and the remaining 96.97% survived (n = 32/33). We conclude that the renal subcapsular model has a lower mortality rate and is technically more accessible than the abdominal aortic model. While the heterotopic transplantation of valves into the abdominal aortic position had significant morbidity and mortality in the rodent model, the renal subcapsular model provided evidence for successful heterotopic transplantation.

A transgenic strain of pigs was created to express green fluorescent protein (GFP) ubiquitously using a pCAGG promoter. Here, we characterize GFP expression in the semilunar valves and great arteries of GFP-transgenic (GFP-Tg) pigs. Immunofluorescence was performed to visualize and quantify GFP expression and colocalization with nuclear staining. GFP expression was confirmed in both the semilunar valves and great arteries of GFP-Tg pigs compared to wild-type tissues (aorta, p = 0.0002; pulmonary artery, p = 0.0005; aortic valve; and pulmonic valve, p < 0.0001). The quantification of GFP expression in cardiac tissue allows this strain of GFP-Tg pigs to be used for future research in partial heart transplantation.

Fusarium, a genus of soil and vegetation-based fungi, is a rare cause of infections in immunocompromised individuals, including transplant recipients. In this case, we describe successful treatment of Fusarium falciforme mediastinitis in the recipient of an orthotopic heart transplant. Treatment included multiple courses of combination antibiotic and antifungal therapy several surgical debridements, continuous mediastinal irrigation with antifungal agents, and staged closure with an omental flap. This is the first report describing successful eradication of fusarium sp. mediastinitis and provides a template for treating complex cases of mediastinitis and osteomyelitis.

Respiratory mechanics are a key area of study in defining and treating lung pathologies by assessing functional lung capacity. Lung mechanics can be evaluated through various lung maneuvers that involve different oscillatory waveforms. When applied to the lungs, these maneuvers measure multiple variables, such as pressure, volume, and flow, based on the response to the waveforms. These signals are then computed and analyzed to determine parameters such as hysterisivity, resistance, compliance, tissue damping, and tissue elastance, providing a detailed assessment of overall lung function. The analysis of respiratory mechanics is particularly important in evaluating donor lungs for lung transplantation. The present protocol is the first of its kind, offering a comprehensive and reproducible stepwise method for assessing respiratory mechanics using an ex vivo murine model. It includes details on the selected animal model, lung recovery, storage and preservation, and experimentation using a forced oscillation technique-based system. Additionally, it outlines data analysis, clinical significance, and the applications of the forced oscillation technique in studying an ex vivo model.

Respiratory mechanics are a key area of study in defining and treating lung pathologies by assessing functional lung capacity. Lung mechanics can be evaluated through various lung maneuvers that involve different oscillatory waveforms. When applied to the lungs, these maneuvers measure multiple variables, such as pressure, volume, and flow, based on the response to the waveforms. These signals are then computed and analyzed to determine parameters such as hysterisivity, resistance, compliance, tissue damping, and tissue elastance, providing a detailed assessment of overall lung function. The analysis of respiratory mechanics is particularly important in evaluating donor lungs for lung transplantation. The present protocol is the first of its kind, offering a comprehensive and reproducible stepwise method for assessing respiratory mechanics using an ex vivo murine model. It includes details on the selected animal model, lung recovery, storage and preservation, and experimentation using a forced oscillation technique-based system. Additionally, it outlines data analysis, clinical significance, and the applications of the forced oscillation technique in studying an ex vivo model.