Destination Therapy with the magnetically levitated HVAD
Christian Heim, Johannes Rösch, Thorsten Zielezinski, Fatos Ballazhi, Markus Kondruweit, Michael Weyand, R. Tandler · Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery · 2015
13 consecutive patients at our hospital were included in this study. Only adult patients with magnetically levitated Heartware LVADs were included in this study. We analyzed the indication and outcome of LVAD destination therapy assessing risk profile, INTERMACS classification, complication rates, and survival after LVAD implantation (cut-off 30/06/2014). Our data show preoperative values including age [67.1 y+5.0 y] and INTERMACS classification [range 2-4]. The indication for DT includes old age, compliance problems, and severe comorbidities. Outcome data demonstrate a low 30-day mortality in elective DT patients (100% survival). Mean follow up after permanent Heartware implantation was in average 544 days (range, 160-1512). 1 year survival after DT with HeartWare was 83.3%. Most frequent complications include bleeding and stroke (1 GI-bleeding, 1 permanent stroke, 1 recovered from SAB, 1 sternal wound infection). Using Heartware as DT LVAD lead to reduction of required INR and hereby reduction of complication rate.