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Browsing by Author "Auerbach, Scott R."
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Item Current Practices in Treating Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD): Understanding Care Practices in Order to Optimize DMD Heart Failure Through ACTION(Springer Nature, 2022) Villa, Chet; Auerbach, Scott R.; Bansal, Neha; Birnbaum, Brian F.; Conway, Jennifer; Esteso, Paul; Gambetta, Katheryn; Hall, E. Kevin; Kaufman, Beth D.; Kirmani, Sonya; Lal, Ashwin K.; Martinez, Hugo R.; Nandi, Deipanjan; O’Connor, Matthew J.; Parent, John J.; Raucci, Frank J.; Shih, Renata; Shugh, Svetlana; Soslow, Jonathan H.; Tunuguntla, Hari; Wittlieb‑Weber, Carol A.; Kinnett, Kathi; Cripe, Linda; Pediatrics, School of MedicineCardiac disease has emerged as a leading cause of mortality in Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the current era. This survey sought to identify the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to DMD among pediatric cardiologists in Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network. Pediatric cardiology providers within ACTION (a multi-center pediatric heart failure learning network) were surveyed regarding their approaches to cardiac care in DMD. Thirty-one providers from 23 centers responded. Cardiac MRI and Holter monitoring are routinely obtained, but the frequency of use and indications for ordering these tests varied widely. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and aldosterone antagonist are generally initiated prior to onset of systolic dysfunction, while the indications for initiating beta-blocker therapy vary more widely. Seventeen (55%) providers report their center has placed an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in at least 1 DMD patient, while 11 providers (35%) would not place an ICD for primary prevention in a DMD patient. Twenty-three providers (74%) would consider placement of a ventricular assist device (VAD) as destination therapy (n = 23, 74%) and three providers (10%) would consider a VAD only as bridge to transplant. Five providers (16%) would not consider VAD at their institution. Cardiac diagnostic and therapeutic approaches vary among ACTION centers, with notable variation present regarding the use of advanced therapies (ICD and VAD). The network is currently working to harmonize medical practices and optimize clinical care in an era of rapidly evolving outcomes and cardiac/skeletal muscle therapies.Item Infectious Complications of Ventricular Assist Device Use in Children in the US: Data from the Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs)(Elsevier, 2017) Auerbach, Scott R.; Richmond, Marc E.; Schumacher, Kurt R.; Lopez-Colon, Dalia; Mitchell, Max B.; Turrentine, M. W.; Cantor, Ryan S.; Niebler, Robert A.; Eghtesady, Pirooz; Surgery, School of MedicineBackground Infections are frequent in pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD) patients. In this study we aimed to describe infections in durable VAD patients reported to Pedimacs. Methods Durable VAD data from the Pedimacs registry (September 19, 2012 to December 31, 2015) were analyzed. Infections were described with standard descriptive statistics, Kaplan–Meier analysis and competing outcomes analysis. Results There were 248 implants in 222 patients, with a mean age and a median follow-up of 11 ± 6.4 years and 2.4 patient-months (<1 day to 2.6 years), respectively. Device types were pulsatile flow (PF) in 91 (41%) patients and continuous flow (CF) in 131 (59%) patients. PF patients were younger (4 ± 4 vs 14 ± 4 years; p < 0.0001) and were more likely to have congenital heart disease (25% vs 12%; p = 0.03), prior surgery (53% vs 26%; p < 0.0001) and prior extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (24% vs 7%; p = 0.0003). Infection accounted for 17% (96 of 564) of the reported adverse events (AEs). A non-device infection was most common (51%), followed by sepsis (24%), external pump component infection (20%) and internal pump component infection (5%). Most infections were bacterial (73%) and required intravenous therapy only (77%). The risk of infection in the constant phase was higher in patients with a history of prior infection and in patients with a history of a non-infectious major AEs. Survival was lower after infection only in CF patients (p = 0.008). Conclusions Infection was the most common AE after pediatric VAD implantation. Non-device infections were most common. The best predictor of a future infection was a past infection. CF patients have higher risk of death after an infection.