Solla Buceta, MiguelGonzález Vílchez, FranciscoAlmenar Bonet, LuisLambert Rodríguez, José LuisSegovia Cubero, JavierGonzález Costello, JoséDelgado Jiménez, JuanPérez Villa, FélixMartínez Sellés Oliveria Soares, ManuelBarge Caballero, EduardoEt al.2021-06-012021-06-012022Solla Buceta, M., González Vílchez, F., Almenar-Bonet, L., Lambert-Rodríguez, J. L., Segovia-Cubero, J., González Costello, J., Delgado, J. F., Pérez Villa, F., Crespo Leiro, M. G., Rangel-Sousa, D., Martínez-Sellés, M., Rábago-Juan-Aracil, G., Fuente- Galán, L., Blasco Peiró, T., Hervás Sotomayor, D., Garrido-Bravo, I. P., Mirabet Pérez, S., Muñiz, J., & Barge Caballero, E. (2022). Infectious complications associated with short-term mechanical circulatory support in urgent heart transplant candidates. Revista española de cardiología (English ed.), 75(2), 141-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rec.2020.11.0191885-5857http://hdl.handle.net/11268/10078Introduction and objectives: Short-term mechanical circulatory support is frequently used as a bridge to heart transplant in Spain. The epidemiology and prognostic impact of infectious complications in these patients are unknown. Methods: Systematic description of the epidemiology of infectious complications and analysis of their prognostic impact in a multicenter, retrospective registry of patients treated with short-term mechanical devices as a bridge to urgent heart transplant from 2010 to 2015 in 16 Spanish hospitals. Results: We studied 249 patients, of which 87 (34.9%) had a total of 102 infections. The most frequent site was the respiratory tract (n=47; 46.1%). Microbiological confirmation was obtained in 78 (76.5%) episodes, with a total of 100 causative agents, showing a predominance of gram-negative bacteria (n=58, 58%). Compared with patients without infection, those with infectious complications showed higher mortality during the support period (25.3% vs 12.3%, P=.009) and a lower probability of receiving a transplant (73.6% vs 85.2%, P=.025). In-hospital posttransplant mortality was similar in the 2 groups (with infection: 28.3%; without infection: 23.4%; P=.471). Conclusions: Patients supported with temporary devices as a bridge to heart transplant are exposed to a high risk of infectious complications, which are associated with higher mortality during the organ waiting period.engTrasplante de corazónjournal article10.1016/j.rec.2020.11.019restricted accessEnfermedad cardiovascularAparato respiratorioTrasplante de órganos