Determinants of outcomes for postcardiotomy VAD placement: an 11-year, two-institution study

Ventricular assist device (VAD) placement after postcardiotomy failure is associated with a high mortality. We sought to determine prognostic factors in order to help better select patients who may benefit from VAD placement.

From January 1992 to January 2003, 63 patients out of approximately 30,000 cardiac surgery patients (0.21%) developed postcardiotomy failure requiring VADs. Planned VAD for bridge to transplant or bridge to recovery were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, based on pre-VAD placement parameters, was used to determine prognostic factors for in-hospital 30-day mortality.

Overall operative mortality was 73% (46 of 63). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified median age /=0 mEq/L (each additional mEq/L) prior to VAD placement (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.48 to 0.91, p = 0.012) to be independent predictors of improved 30-day survival.

Postcardiotomy failure is a rare event but is associated with a very poor prognosis despite salvage therapies utilizing VADs. Age /=0 (mEq/L) prior to VAD placement are associated with improved 30-day survival.