Preoperative pulmonary function is associated with left ventricular assist device outcomes.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pulmonology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation improves survival in end-stage heart failure.
• The influence of preoperative pulmonary function on short-term LVAD outcomes remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between preoperative pulmonary function and short-term outcomes following LVAD implantation.
• To determine if pulmonary function metrics can aid in risk stratification for LVAD patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 107 primary LVAD implants from 2017-2022.
• Evaluation of preoperative pulmonary function measures including fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).
• Kaplan-Meier method used for survival estimation.

Main Results:

• Lower preoperative FEV1 and higher preoperative FiO2 were associated with decreased 1-year survival.
• Pulmonary function status correlated with postoperative ventilator time and the incidence of tracheostomy.
• Overall 1-year survival was 86.8%, with a median postoperative ventilator time of 20.4 hours.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative pulmonary function is a significant predictor of short-term LVAD outcomes.
• Assessment of pulmonary function is crucial for preoperative risk stratification in LVAD candidates.
• Optimizing pulmonary assessment may improve patient selection and postoperative management for LVAD recipients.