As SARS-CoV-2 continues to challenge hospital systems, the safety of heart transplantation must be evaluated. Retrospective review of all heart recipients transplanted at a single academic medical center in a U.S. SARS-CoV-2 epicenter found two patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. The 34-year-old male (ejection fraction <10%) was bridged to transplant with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and microaxial left ventricular assist device. His perioperative course was uncomplicated except for transient SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity two months post-transplant. He was asymptomatic and remained so eight months to follow. The 20-year-old female (ejection fraction 5%) was bridged to transplant with microaxial left ventricular assist device. She progresses well with SARS-CoV-2 seronegativity eight months post-transplant. Our early experience suggests that intentional recipient, donor, and provider testing, cautious organ procurement, strategic intrahospital patient organization and transport, and well-coordinated follow-up permits uninterrupted provision of this definitive therapy for heart failure without subjecting these patients to greater risk.

Objective As the population ages, increasing number of older patients are undergoing adult cardiac surgery. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of age on postoperative outcomes in patients that undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods Patients that are ≥70 years old who underwent CABG were selected from the Nationwide/National Inpatient Sample from 2010 to 2015 using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes. The patients who were 70–79 years old were compared to patients aged 80–89 years old to determine if the age difference of the patients had an impact on surgical outcomes. In addition, the gender of the patients 80-89 years old were compared. The rates of postoperative complications, and mortality were compared. Results A total of 67,568 patients were identified who were ≥70 years old and underwent CABG. Compared to the Septuagenarians, the Octogenarians were more likely to develop cardiac complications (OR [odds ratio] =1.20, 95% CI [confidence interval] 1.12-1.23. They were also more likely to develop renal complications (P <0001), and respiratory complications (P <0001). The Octogenarians were also more likely to bleed postoperatively (P <0.0001) and have a higher mortality (P <0001). Furthermore, the female Octogenarians had a higher mortality (OR 1.25 95% CI 1.07–1.46) compared to males in the same age group. Conclusions The patients who were ≥80 – 89 years old had worse postoperative outcomes. The Octogenarians who were females had a higher mortality compared to their male counterparts.