Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41002643›Full record

ArticleJournal of cardiovascular development and disease2025

Outcomes of Use of Inotropes at Waitlisting Through Heart Transplantation: The UNOS Experience.

Marco Gemelli, Ilias P Doulamis, Thanakorn Rojanathagoon, Aspasia Tzani, Athanasios Rempakos, Polydoros Kampaktsis, Alvise Guariento, Ernesto Ruiz Dunque, Rabea Asleh, Paulino Alvarez and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cardiovascular development and disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Marco GemelliBristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8ED, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2902-7947
Ilias P DoulamisDepartment of Surgery, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA 01805, USA.
Thanakorn RojanathagoonSchool of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1318-609X
Aspasia TzaniBrigham and Women's Hospital Heart and Vascular Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Athanasios RempakosMedical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10679 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-2683-5255
Polydoros KampaktsisDivision of Cardiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City, NY 10032, USA.
Alvise GuarientoDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.
Ernesto Ruiz DunqueDivision of Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Heart Failure and Transplantation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9777-4883
Rabea AslehDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0258-7402
Paulino AlvarezDivision of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Vincenzo TarziaDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.
Gino GerosaDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6261-699X
Alexandros BriasoulisMedical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10679 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-5740-9670

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite its use in patients awaiting heart transplant (HT), the impact of continuous inotropic support on short-term complications and long-term transplant outcomes remains unclear. This study evaluated inotrope use at the time of HT on perioperative complications and post-transplant survival, comparing outcomes at 30 days, 1 year, and 10 years with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) strategies including ECMO, IABP, and VADs.

methodsA retrospective analysis of the United Network for Organ sharing (UNOS) registry was performed, stratifying patients based on bridge strategy at the time of transplant: inotropes, ECMO, IABP, or VADs. Baseline characteristics, perioperative complications, and 30-day, 1-year, and 10-year post-transplant survival outcomes were analyzed across groups. Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models.

resultsAmong the 11,801 heart transplant patients included, 9330 were on inotropes, 372 were on ECMO, 1072 received an IABP, and 1027 had VADs. Inotrope-bridged patients had significantly lower 30-day and 1-year mortality rates compared to the ECMO, IABP, and VAD groups. They also experienced reduced incidences of post-transplant dialysis and stroke. At 10 years, the inotrope group demonstrated superior long-term survival, with significantly lower mortality risk compared to ECMO (HR: 1.81; CI: 1.49-2.20,

conclusionsContinuous use of inotropes after waitlisting is associated with lower short, intermediate, and long-term mortality and does not lead to worse outcomes compared to ECMO, IABP, and VAD support. When mechanical support is not an option, inotropic therapy remains a viable and effective strategy.

Indexed as

heart transplantationinotropesMCSsurvivalUNOS

Identifiers

PMID41002643
PMCPMC12471187

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.