Uncorrected pre-operative mitral valve regurgitation is not associated with adverse outcomes after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is prevalent in patients with heart failure. Because very few data exist examining the influence of significant pre-operative MR on outcomes after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, we evaluate our experience.

METHODS:

Between October 1996 and August 2013, 756 patients underwent primary LVAD implantation at our institutions. Of these, 508 patients received a continuous-flow LVAD and represent the contemporary cohort for this analysis. Devices implanted included the HeartMate II in 410 patients (81%) and HeartWare HVAD in 98 patients (19%). Based on availability of pre-operative echocardiography, 491 patients were divided into 2 study groups according to degree of pre-operative MR; 189 patients (39%) had moderate to severe or greater MR (MR group), and 302 (61%) had less than moderate to severe MR (less MR group). Median age at operation (60 years in MR group vs 58 years in less MR group, p = 0.19), male sex (78% in MR group vs 81% in less MR group, p = 0.42), and ischemic etiology (46% in MR group vs 51% in less MR group, p = 0.35) were similar between groups.

RESULTS:

There were 40 early deaths (7.9%), and follow-up was available in all 468 early survivors for 641 patient-years of support. Patients in the MR group had higher late survival (2 years, 75%; 4 years, 65%) compared with patients in the less MR group (2 years, 66%; 4 years, 48%; p < 0.04). Cox proportional hazards model confirmed the independent interaction between MR and late survival (hazard ratio 0.62, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS:

There was improved survival in patients with severe pre-operative MR after continuous-flow LVAD implantation in our cohort. These findings may lend insight into the possible lack of value of addressing significant MR at the time of LVAD implantation.

• Authors: John M Stulak, Vakhtang Tchantchaleishvili, Nicholas A Haglund, Mary E Davis, John A Schirger, Jennifer A Cowger, Palak Shah, Keith D Aaronson, Francis D Pagani, Simon Maltais
• 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 5 Pg. 718-23 (May 2015) ISSN: 1557-3117 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25697807 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Aged
• Echocardiography
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Heart Failure (complications, mortality, surgery)
• Heart-Assist Devices
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mitral Valve Insufficiency (complications, epidemiology, therapy)
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Survival Rate (trends)
• Treatment Outcome
• United States (epidemiology)