Long-term heart transplant outcomes after lowering fixed pulmonary hypertension using left ventricular assist devices

Fixed pulmonary hypertension (fPH) is a contraindication for heart transplantation (HTX). Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation as a bridge to candidacy can reverse fPH in patients with terminal heart failure by chronic left ventricular unloading. We report our institutional experience with terminal heart failure patients and fPH that were successfully bridged to candidacy and underwent subsequent HTX.

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 79 patients with terminal heart failure and fPH who were successfully bridged to candidacy for HTX with 6 different LVAD devices at our centre from October 1998 to September 2016 (Novacor n = 4, MicroMed DeBakey n = 29, DuraHeart n = 2, HeartMate II n = 14, HVAD n = 29 and MVAD n = 1). Median duration of LVAD support was 288 days (range 45-2279 days). Within the same timeframe, a control group of 48 patients underwent HTX after bridge-to-transplant LVAD therapy for reasons other than PH. Study end points were (i) development of fPH after LVAD implantation, (ii) post-transplant outcomes and (iii) incidence of severe adverse events.

Pulmonary vascular resistance, assessed by vasodynamic catheterization, was 4.3 ± 1.8 WU before LVAD implantation. After a median support period of 89 days (interquartile range 4-156 days), pulmonary vascular resistance decreased to 2.0 ± 0.9 WU (P ≤ 0.001), and patients were listed for HTX. Median duration of LVAD support in the study group was 288 days (45-2279 days). We observed 2 patients (2.5%) with acute right heart failure who required extracorporeal mechanical support after HTX in the study group. Long-term post-transplant survival between the study group (3 years: 83.5%, 5 years: 81.0%) and the control group (3 years: 87.5%, 5 years: 85.4%) was comparable (log-rank: P = 0.585).

LVAD implantation as a bridge to candidacy reverses fPH in patients with terminal heart failure. Post-HTX survival is excellent and comparable to results obtained in patients without fPH at the time of HTX listing.