Incidence and clinical implications of aortic root thrombosis in LVAD patients: A single-center experience

Mehmet Karahan1, Sinan Sabit Kocabeyoğlu1, Doğan Emre Sert1

  • 1Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye.

Insights

Aortic root thrombosis (ART) in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) may be under-recognized. However, this study found no significant impact of ART on mortality or major adverse events in LVAD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Medical Devices
  • Thrombosis Research

Background:

  • Aortic root thrombosis (ART) is a recognized complication in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).
  • Understanding the clinical outcomes associated with ART is crucial for managing LVAD patients.
  • ART may be under-diagnosed, potentially leading to adverse cardiac and end-organ effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients who develop aortic root thrombosis (ART) after receiving a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
  • To determine the association between ART and adverse events in the LVAD population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of adult LVAD patients implanted between January 2020 and March 2022.
  • Comparison of pre-operative data and post-discharge composite outcomes between patients with and without ART.
  • Composite outcomes included cerebrovascular events, pump thrombosis, myocardial infarction, embolic events, bleeding, right ventricular failure, and mortality.

Main Results:

  • Of 44 LVAD patients, 20 (45%) developed ART post-discharge, with thrombosis occurring at a median of 59 days.
  • The primary site of thrombosis was the non-coronary cusp in 50% of ART cases.
  • No significant differences were observed in composite outcomes (p=0.276), mortality (p=0.814), bleeding (p=0.808), or RV failure (p=0.197) between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Aortic root thrombosis (ART) is a frequent finding in LVAD patients.
  • Despite its occurrence, ART did not significantly increase mortality or major adverse events in this cohort.
  • Close monitoring and management of LVAD patients are essential, even in the absence of significant ART-related complications.
Abstract

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