Heart Transplantation on Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Single-Center Study (2010–2024)

Background: Temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) is increasingly used to stabilize patients in cardiogenic shock as a bridge-to-transplant. While this strategy facilitates listing and organ allocation in critically ill patients, its effect on post-transplant outcomes remains incompletely defined. Methods: -test and chi-square tests were used for comparisons. Results: < 0.01). Resternotomy rates were similar. Patients bridged with Impella or transitioned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to right ventricular-assist device (RVAD) had better outcomes than those transplanted directly from ECLS. Conclusion: HTX in tMCS-supported patients is feasible but associated with significantly higher early and mid-term mortality. The type of preoperative support and transition strategy may impact outcomes. Tailored bridging concepts and early conversion to durable or RVAD-based support warrant further investigation.