Background/Objectives: Heart transplantation (HTx) is a lifesaving procedure for end-stage heart failure patients; however, postoperative infections remain a major challenge due to immunosuppressive therapy and surgical complications. Traditional biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) have limitations in distinguishing infections from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Emerging markers such as Presepsin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) may improve diagnostic accuracy. This study aimed to evaluate the kinetics and reliability of these four inflammatory biomarkers in heart transplant recipients in the immediate postoperative period. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 126 patients who underwent HTx at Policlinic of Bari between January 2022 and November 2024. Patients were categorized into infected (n = 26) and non-infected (n = 100) groups based on clinical and microbiological criteria. Biomarkers (CRP, PCT, Presepsin, and IL-6) were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10. Statistical analyses included the Mann–Whitney U test and logistic regression to identify the independent predictors of infection. Results: CRP and PCT levels differed significantly between the groups only on day 10, limiting their use as early infection markers. In contrast, Presepsin levels were significantly elevated in infected patients from day 1 (p < 0.001), whereas IL-6 levels showed significant differences from day 3 onward. Presepsin showed the strongest association with infection in the early postoperative phase. Conclusions: Presepsin and IL-6 outperformed CRP and PCT in detecting early postoperative infections in heart transplant recipients. Their early elevation supports their use as reliable markers for guiding timely clinical intervention and improving patient outcomes. Further research is needed to validate these findings in larger cohorts and with different immunosuppressive regimens.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) has been historically considered a contraindication for heart donation due to its transient left ventricular dysfunction. However, emerging evidence supports that hearts from donors with fully recovered Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy can be safely transplanted. Methods: This case series describes seven heart transplantations performed between January 2022 and September 2025 using donors with previously diagnosed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Donor characteristics, intraoperative data, echocardiography data and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Results: The mean donor age was 33.5 years (range 18–58), with a male-to-female ratio of 6:1. All donors exhibited echocardiographic evidence of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy at the time of brain death, with full or partial recovery before procurement. Coronary angiography excluded obstructive coronary disease. Echocardiographic follow-up demonstrated the mean LVEF increased to 52 ± 6%, reaching 58 ± 4% at 12 months, global longitudinal strain (GLS) improved progressively (from −14.2 ± 2.8% to −18.5 ± 1.9%), confirming normalization of myocardial deformation and the right ventricular function, assessed by TAPSE, rose from 15 ± 3 mm at discharge to 20 ± 2 mm at 12 months. All patients transplanted with donors who had Takotsubo cardiomyopathy are alive at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: Hearts from donors with resolved Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy can be safely used for transplantation without compromising early- or mid-term outcomes. Expanding donor eligibility criteria to include selected TTC donors may contribute to mitigating organ shortages in advanced heart failure patients.

Background/Objectives: Retained fragments of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) leads are frequently observed after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), but their clinical relevance remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of 179 adult patients who underwent OHT between January 2022 and January 2025. Post-transplant imaging was used to identify retained lead fragments. Patients were grouped based on the presence or absence of retained leads. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 30, 90, and 150 days post-transplant. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results: Among 112 patients with pre-transplant CIEDs, 18 (16%) had retained intravascular lead fragments. These patients had significantly lower survival at 30 days (66.7% vs. 94.7%), 90 days (61.1% vs. 90.3%), and 150 days (55.0% vs. 83.5%) compared to those without retained fragments (log-rank p = 0.002). The presence of retained leads was independently associated with increased mortality (HR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.55–8.84; p = 0.003), even after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusions: Retained CIED lead fragments are independently associated with higher early post-transplant mortality. These findings support the need for individualized intraoperative strategies to mitigate hardware-related risks in high-risk transplant candidates.

Introduction: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a rare but potentially catastrophic complication following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Most reported cases occur during or shortly after the procedure and are attributed to procedural aortic injury. Very late presentations occurring years after successful TAVI are exceptionally uncommon, and evidence regarding their optimal management remains limited. Case Presentation: An 86-year-old man presented with acute chest pain four years after transfemoral implantation of a self-expanding Evolut R 29-mm transcatheter heart valve. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion with signs of impending cardiac tamponade. Computed tomography angiography confirmed Stanford type A acute aortic dissection involving the ascending aorta. Emergency surgical repair was performed through replacement of the ascending aorta and hemiarch using a vascular graft. The previously implanted transcatheter valve was preserved because it remained structurally intact and functionally normal. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 9 with preserved prosthetic valve function (mean gradient 11 mmHg, peak velocity of 2.1 m/s, EOA 1.8 cm², EF 50%, TAPSE 18 mm and no evidence of paravalvular or intraprosthetic regurgitation). Discussion: To better contextualize this rare presentation, a focused review of the literature on delayed and late ATAAD after TAVI was performed. Only a limited number of cases were identified, highlighting the exceptional rarity of this complication. Reported management strategies included conservative treatment, endovascular interventions, and open surgical repair, with considerable heterogeneity in outcomes. Compared with previously published reports, the present case is notable for the exceptionally long interval between TAVI and dissection onset and for the successful valve-preserving surgical repair. These findings suggest that emergency surgery with preservation of a functioning transcatheter valve may be a feasible option in carefully selected patients. Conclusions: Very late ATAAD after TAVI is an exceptionally rare but life-threatening condition. This case demonstrates that valve-preserving surgical repair can be successfully performed even in selected octogenarian patients. As the population of long-term TAVI survivors continues to expand, awareness of late aortic complications, prompt diagnosis, and referral to specialized aortic centers remain essential for achieving favorable outcomes.

Background/Objectives: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) remains a major cause of early morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation, and peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) represents an established rescue therapy for severe cases. Although direct femoral arterial cannulation is commonly used because of its rapid deployment, axillary artery cannulation through a Dacron graft provides antegrade arterial perfusion and may represent an alternative approach. This study compared early clinical outcomes and cannulation-related complications between these two arterial cannulation strategies. Methods: In this retrospective single-center observational study, 42 consecutive adult heart transplant recipients requiring peripheral VA-ECMO for PGD were included. Patients were divided according to arterial cannulation strategy into direct femoral cannulation (DFC, n = 25) and axillary Dacron graft cannulation (ADG, n = 17). Baseline recipient and donor characteristics, perioperative variables, postoperative outcomes, vascular complications, successful VA-ECMO weaning, and survival to hospital discharge were compared. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for major clinical outcomes and cannulation-related complications. Results: The primary composite endpoint of cannulation-related complications occurred in 0/17 patients (0%) in the ADG group and 3/25 patients (12.0%) in the DFC group (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.01–3.80; p = 0.260). Successful VA-ECMO weaning was achieved in 94.1% versus 92.0% (p = 1.000), and survival to hospital discharge was 76.5% versus 64.0% (OR 1.83, 95% CI 0.46–7.32; p = 0.505). Stroke occurred in 5.9% versus 16.0% (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.03–3.23; p = 0.632), while renal replacement therapy was required in 35.3% versus 52.0% (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.14–1.79; p = 0.353). No statistically significant differences were detected between groups. Conclusions: No statistically significant differences in successful VA-ECMO weaning or survival to hospital discharge were observed between axillary Dacron graft and direct femoral arterial cannulation. No statistically significant differences in neurological, vascular, or other major postoperative outcomes were detected. Although several complications occurred numerically less frequently with axillary cannulation, the limited sample size and wide confidence intervals preclude conclusions regarding comparative superiority. Axillary Dacron graft cannulation may therefore represent a feasible alternative in selected heart transplant recipients requiring peripheral VA-ECMO for PGD. Larger prospective multicenter studies are warranted.