ePrints

Myocardial Recovery Strategy with Decommissioning for the HeartWare Left Ventricular Assist Device

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Guy MacGowanORCiD, Dr Gareth Parry, Dr Stephan Schueler

Downloads

• Accepted version [.pdf]

Licence

This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2017.

For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.

Abstract

Copyright © 2017 by the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs To manage myocardial recovery in patients with the HeartWare left ventricular assist device (HVAD), we describe a minimally invasive approach (‘decommissioning’) that involves disconnecting the driveline and occluding the outflow tract through a small left thoracotomy incision leaving the device in situ, in conjunction with optimal medical therapies and comprehensive assessment of left ventricular recovery. Nine patients (all male, 37 ± 12 years, all non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy) had an HVAD implanted for 766±343 days. When left ventricular function improved to mild impairment by echocardiography, patients underwent assessment at reduced flow (2578±148 to 1822±67 rpm) with documentation of compensated right heart hemodynamics and ejection fraction 52±8%. Eight of nine patients underwent decommissioning, and 1 patient had a hybrid procedure of percutaneous occlusion of outflow graft and surgical division of driveline. 2 patients died post operatively at 413 days (sepsis) and 810 days (heart failure). In conclusion, in selected patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy a prolonged period of HVAD support in conjunction with heart failure medications can lead to recovery of left ventricular function. Surgical decommissioning is then an option to remove these patients from support. These patients are however not ‘cured’ and remain at risk for future deterioration in ventricular function and infections.

Publication metadata

Author(s): MacGowan GA, Wrightson N, Robinson-Smith N, Woods A, Parry G, Gould K, Schueler S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: ASAIO Journal

Year: 2017

Volume: 63

Issue: 3

Pages: 299-304

Online publication date: 01/05/2017

Acceptance date: 02/04/2016

Date deposited: 04/05/2017

ISSN (print): 1058-2916

ISSN (electronic): 1538-943X

Publisher: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins

URL: https://doi.org/10.1097/MAT.0000000000000523

DOI: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000000523

Altmetrics

Share