Outcomes of Patients Receiving Temporary Circulatory Support Before Durable Ventricular Assist Device

Temporary circulatory support (TCS) is used to stabilize patients in critical cardiogenic shock and bridge patients to a durable ventricular assist device (VAD). Whether TCS confers increased risk at the time of VAD implant is unknown.

Prospectively collected data from five institutions was retrospectively reviewed. All profile 1 through profile 3 patients implanted with a continuous-flow VAD (n = 804) were categorized into three groups: TCS (n = 68); non-TCS profile 1 (n = 70); and non-TCS profile 2-3 (n = 666).

End-organ function and hemodynamics were worse before TCS than in non-TCS profile 1 patients: creatinine (1.7 ± 0.1 mg/dL versus 1.3 ± 0.06 mg/dL, p = 0.003); and right atrial pressure (16 ± 0.8 mm Hg versus 13 ± 1.1 mm Hg, p = 0.048). The TCS restored cardiac output before durable VAD (4.9 ± 0.2 L/min), and was comparable to profile 2-3 patients (4.3 ± 0.05 L/min) and better than profile 1 patients (4.0 ± 0.2 L/min, p = 0.002). Markers of hepatic function such as bilirubin were impaired before VAD in TCS and profile 1 patients (2.0 ± 0.2 mg/dL) compared with profile 2 and 3 patients (1.1 ± 0.03, p < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative right ventricular failure necessitating a right VAD was 21% for TCS patients and non-TCS profile 1 patients compared with 2% for profile 2-3 patients (p < 0.001). Profile 1 and TCS patients had similar 1-year survival (70% and 77%, p = 0.57), but inferior survival as compared with profile 2 and 3 patients (82%, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, TCS increased the hazard of death twofold.

Temporary circulatory support restores hemodynamics and reverses end-organ dysfunction. Nevertheless, these patients have high residual risk with postoperative morbidity and mortality that parallels profile 1 patients without TCS. Caution is suggested in downgrading risk for TCS patients with improved hemodynamic stability.