Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: We obtained a convenience sample of patients prescribed an WCD as a bridge therapy to HT. The available data consisted of demographics, cardiac transplantation status, associated comorbidities, device use, device-stored electrocardiogram (ECG) and reason for discontinuing the WCD. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 17 and GraphPad PRISM 5. RESULTS: The registry included 121 patients consisting of 83 (69%) men and 38 (31%) women. The mean age was 44 ± 18 years. Mean ejection fraction was 25 ± 15%. Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy ( CMP) was the underlying diagnosis in 67 (55%) patients, whereas 21 (17%) patients had ischemic CMP and 33 (27%) had a mixed or uncharacterized CMP. New York Heart Association Class III heart failure was present in 32% and 34% were in Class IV. Eighty-eight patients (73%) were being evaluated for HT or were on an HT waiting list, and 33 patients (27%) had had a prior HT, experienced rejection, and were awaiting re- transplantation. The patients wore the WCD for an average of 127 ± 392 days (median 39 days) with average daily use of 17 ± 7 hours (median 20 hours). Seven patients (6%) received appropriate WCD shocks. Fifty-one patients (42%) ended use after ICD implantation and 13 patients (11%) after HT. There were 11 deaths (9%). CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of patients on the HT waiting list will have VA. WCD use in our study showed high compliance and efficacy and a low complication rate, suggesting that the WCD is a reasonable bridge therapy for preventing SCD in patients awaiting HT.
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Authors | Madalina Opreanu, Chingping Wan, Vini Singh, Negar Salehi, Jaffri Ahmad, Steven J Szymkiewicz, Ranjan K Thakur |
Journal | The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
(J Heart Lung Transplant)
Vol. 34
Issue 10
Pg. 1305-9
(Oct 2015)
ISSN: 1557-3117 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 26094085
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2015 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Topics |
- Adult
- Cardiomyopathies
(complications, therapy)
- Databases, Factual
- Death, Sudden, Cardiac
(prevention & control)
- Defibrillators, Implantable
- Electrocardiography
- Female
- Heart Failure
(complications, therapy)
- Heart Transplantation
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Retrospective Studies
- Tachycardia, Ventricular
(prevention & control)
- United States
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