This month, Daniel R. Goldstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of JHLT, and the JHLT Digital Media Editors are discussing two impactful studies—in pediatric heart transplantation and MCS—from the August issue of The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. You’ll hear more about each of these studies, as well as the authors themselves.

First, the editors speak with Craig Laurence, MD (pictured), a consultant in Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Failure & Transplantation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, UK. He’s the first author on a paper entitled “Pediatric heart transplantation following donation after circulatory death, distant procurement, and ex-situ perfusion.” Dr. Goldstein, David Schibilsky, MD, and Erika Lease, MD, interview Dr. Laurence about the study, which compares how patients fare after transplantation with DBD vs DCD hearts. They also discuss his multi-national and multi-faceted background, including training and practicing in four different countries, as well as in clinical care, research, and training the next generation.

 

Next, we hear from Ravi Karra, MD, Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Pathology at Duke University, senior author of the study, “Recovery of left ventricular function is associated with improved outcomes in LVAD recipients.” Van-Khue Ton, MD, and Marty Tam, MD, discuss the study with Dr. Karra, including questions on the mechanisms by which LVEF may impact improved outcomes, optimal doses of GDMT, and how gender influences LV recovery. They also discuss how Dr. Karra’s lab balances translational research and epidemiological research, and how Dr. Karra splits his time between all his different responsibilities.

 

Follow along in the August issue at www.jhltonline.org/current, or, if you’re an ISHLT member, log in at ishlt.org/journal-of-heart-lung-transplantation.  Don’t already get the Journal and want to read along? Join the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation at www.ishlt.org for a free subscription, or subscribe today at www.jhltonline.org.

This episode of JHLT: The Podcast, but not the studies within, is sponsored by Bayer Pharmaceuticals.