Impact of Partial- to Full-Support Escalation With Microaxial Flow Pumps Prior to Durable Left Ventricular Assist...

Microaxial flow pumps (mAFP) effectively bridge patients with cardiogenic shock to durable left ventricular assist device (dLVAD) implantation. The partial-support mAFPs provide only up to 3.5 L/min, which might be insufficient for an effective circulatory support and preconditioning for a dLVAD implantation. Alternatively, patients with refractory shock on partial support may benefit from an escalation to a full-support mAFP.

A retrospective analysis of 130 patients was performed across 17 European cardiac centres who underwent dLVAD implantation following mAFP with or without venoarterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS) between February 2015 and August 2022. Ninety-two patients (70.8%) were bridged on partial-support mAFP, while 38 patients (29.2%) underwent an escalation to full-support mAFP.

Median support duration was significantly longer in the escalation group (7 days [4, 11] vs 12 days [9, 21], P < .001). Patients in the escalation group were more likely to be weaned from VA-ECLS before dLVAD implantation, 10 (71.4%) vs 6 (11.3%), P < .001. Thirty-day survival was similar between the escalation and no-escalation groups, 89.5% vs 84.8% (IPTW-weighted OR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.46-2.22], P = .992). Estimated 1-year survival was higher in the escalation group: 84.0% [95% CI, 73.0-96.6] vs 63.7% [95% CI, 54.3-74.6], HR 0.41 [95% CI, 0.17-0.99], P = .048. Patients with a combination of partial-support mAFP and VA-ECLS had a higher mortality risk than all other patients, HR 2.06 [95% CI, 1.16-3.36], P = .013.

In patients with partial-support mAFP and concomitant VA-ECLS, an escalation to a full-support mAFP may translate to improved survival and should be considered to facilitate VA-ECLS weaning.