ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 13, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regardless of presentation date and time, all three abstracts will have the same embargo time at 8 a.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. For more information, Nov. 12-16, call the AHA News Media Staff Office at the Orange County Convention Center at (407) 685-5410. Before or after these dates, call the AHA Communications Office in Dallas at (214) 706-1396.
Heart Transplant Statistics (American Heart Association Statistical Supplement):
- In 2009, 2,211 heart transplantations were performed in the United States.
- 72.1 percent were male; 67.6 percent were white, 19 percent black and 9.1 percent Hispanic.
- 25.5 percent were younger than 35 years, 17.9 percent were 35 to 49, and 56.6 percent were 50 or older.
- As of June 25, 2010, 3,153 patients were on waiting lists for a heart transplant and 80 for a heart/lung transplant.
Abstract 10088
Heart assist devices effective in adolescents waiting for transplants
Children with heart failure who received a ventricular assist device (VAD) while waiting for a transplant had six-month outcomes similar to those of adults with the devices, according to a new review of data from a federally supported registry.
Scientists evaluated VAD implantation in 74 pediatric patients under the age of 21; two were younger than 9, 34 were 10-17, and 38 were 18-20 years of age. Half of the devices were continuous flow, and half were pulsatile. VAD implantation in this study was performed at multiple institutions throughout the United States between June 23, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2010.
Six months after device implant, 55 percent were transplanted, 37 percent were alive on support, and 8 percent had died. The most common adverse events included infection, major bleeding, neurologic events and device malfunction.
Implanted devices included left ventricular assist devices alone in 51 patients, bi-ventricular (left and right ventricle) assist devices in 21 patients and a total artificial heart in two patients.
Mechanical circulatory support is becoming a more viable strategy to reduce death in younger heart patients awaiting heart transplantation. Though adolescents in the study received standard VADs, pediatric-specific devices are likely to earn federal approval soon, researchers said.
Note: Actual presentation is 2 p.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 14, 2011.
Abstract 14631
Four factors improve 10-year survival for young heart transplant patients
(This news tip contains updated information not reflected in the abstract)
Higher center volume, male gender, having the transplant later in the study period, and younger donor age were associated with improved 10-year survival in a study of 2,721 pediatric heart transplant patients.
The study is the largest to examine predictors of 10-year survival in this population.
The most common causes for heart failure requiring transplant included congenital heart disease (53 percent) and dilated cardiomyopathy (36 percent).
The analysis from the United Network for Organ Sharing also found that mechanical ventilation and/or African American race significantly reduced the likelihood of longer survival.
During the study period from 1987-99, 1,143 survived for at least 10 years and 1,113 died within ten years of transplantation. Average age was 5.7 years; 1,314 were males. The remaining 465 patients were lost to follow-up.
The data may help providers allocate organs and predict patients' progress after transplant, researchers said.
Note: Actual presentation is 9 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011.
Abstract 11335
Babies put on transplant list before birth get hearts quicker
Listing unborn babies with severe pre-natal heart problems results in earlier heart transplants and comparable outcomes after listing when compared to those listed as a newborn, researchers said.
The review of outcomes among fetal heart patients included 46 unborn infants listed for heart transplant in a multi-center registry between 1993-2009.
Approximately 50 percent of the listed fetal patients waited one month after birth to receive a heart transplant compared to three months for newborn patients. Fetal patients were listed for an average 18 days before delivery.
Researchers also found:
- The most common indication for fetal listing for heart transplant was congenital heart disease, with left-side obstructive lesions predominating.
- The most common cause of wait-list death was multi-system failure in the fetal group and cardiac failure in the newborn group.
- Median wait-list time to heart transplant after birth was 25 days for the fetal patients and 39 days for newborns.
- Of those who survived to heart transplant, there were no significant differences between the fetal and newborn groups in mean age, gender or race.
Fetal listing should be considered after in utero diagnosis of severe heart disease, the researchers said.
Note: Actual presentation is 3 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011.
Author disclosures are on the abstracts.
###
Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.
NR11-1130 (Sessions11/Kids & Transplants Tip Sheet)
NEW for Scientific Sessions 2011:
All downloadable animation and images related to this news tip are located on the right column of this link
http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/_prv-kids-and-transplants-tip-sheet-217824.aspx.
Follow AHA Scientific Sessions 2011 online via http://twitter.com/#!/heartnews #AHANews2011.
The American Heart Association logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9940