Right Heart Failure in Different Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Single-Center Experience.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Devices
• Heart Failure Research

Background:

• Right heart failure (RHF) is a significant complication after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, increasing patient morbidity and mortality.
• Continuous-flow LVADs are used for advanced heart failure treatment, but device-specific complications like RHF require careful evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of RHF and associated outcomes between the HeartMate II and HeartWare continuous-flow LVADs.
• To identify preoperative variables associated with RHF and mortality in LVAD recipients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 184 patients implanted with either HeartMate II (n=161) or HeartWare (n=23) LVADs from January 2012 to June 2016.
• Analysis included preoperative demographics, medical history, laboratory values, hemodynamics, and device type to assess RHF and mortality predictors.

Main Results:

• The HeartWare group experienced a significantly higher incidence of RHF (57%) compared to the HeartMate II group (16%).
• HeartWare device recipients had increased odds of RHF and renal failure requiring dialysis after propensity score analysis.
• While HeartMate II showed a trend towards better survival at 1 and 2 years, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Device type may influence the incidence of RHF and mortality following LVAD implantation.
• Further multi-center studies are recommended to validate these findings regarding HeartMate II versus HeartWare device outcomes.