Vasoplegia following heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device explant is not associated with inferior outcomes

Vasoplegia after cardiac surgery describes the syndrome of refractory hypotension, reduced systemic vascular resistance and normal or elevated cardiac output that is seen to develop in some patients, requiring high-dose vasopressors in order to prevent end organ dysfunction (1). Previous studies have reported vasoplegia to occur more often after heart transplantation (HTx) compared to other cardiac surgeries. It is thought this is due to the heightened pro-inflammatory state that exists in advanced heart failure, combined with the inflammatory response that ensues upon reperfusion and release of donor antigen (2)