Outcomes and Readmissions After Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device: Heartmate II Versus Heartware

O N Tuncer1, C Kemaloğlu2, O Erbasan2

  • 1Erzincan Universıty, Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Erzincan, Turkey.

Insights

Donor organ shortage necessitates alternatives like the HeartMate II and HeartWare left ventricular assist devices. While comparable, HeartWare showed better survival, but HeartMate II had more bleeding and infection, while HeartWare had more strokes and thrombosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Devices
  • Surgical Innovation

Background:

  • Donor organ shortage remains a critical issue in heart transplantation, limiting treatment options for end-stage heart disease patients.
  • Continuous flow pumps, such as HeartMate II and HeartWare, offer alternative solutions for patients awaiting transplantation.
  • These devices have demonstrated clinical success in managing advanced heart failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the clinical outcomes and complications of HeartMate II and HeartWare left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).
  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of these two continuous flow pumps in patients with end-stage heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study of 55 patients who received either HeartMate II or HeartWare LVAD implantation between 2011 and 2014.
  • Patients were monitored for complications, including infections, bleeding, organ dysfunction, and thromboembolic events.
  • Comparative analysis of preoperative characteristics, intraoperative outcomes, and device-related adverse events.

Main Results:

  • The HeartMate II group was significantly older than the HeartWare group; no other significant preoperative differences were noted.
  • HeartWare demonstrated a trend towards better 1-year survival, though not statistically significant.
  • Higher incidences of gastrointestinal bleeding and driveline infection were observed in the HeartMate II group, whereas the HeartWare group experienced more strokes and pump thrombosis.

Conclusions:

  • HeartMate II and HeartWare LVADs are largely comparable in terms of survival, intraoperative parameters, and overall major complication rates.
  • Despite similarities, specific complication profiles differ, with HeartMate II associated with bleeding/infection and HeartWare with stroke/thrombosis.
  • Both devices represent viable options for managing end-stage heart failure, with patient selection potentially influenced by risk profiles for specific complications.
Abstract

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