Clinical Outcomes of Patients Treated With Pulmonary Vasodilators Early and in High Dose After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Right ventricular failure (RVF) is common after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and a major determinant of adverse outcomes. Optimal perioperative right ventricular (RV) management is not well defined. We evaluated the use of pulmonary vasodilator therapy during LVAD implantation. We performed a retrospective analysis of continuous-flow LVAD implants and pulmonary vasodilator use at our institution between September 2004 and June 2013. Preoperative RVF risk was assessed using recognized variables. Sixty-five patients (80% men, 50 ± 14 years) were included: 52% HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD), 11% HeartMate II (HMII), 17% VentrAssist, 20% Jarvik. Predicted RVF risk was comparable with contemporary LVAD populations: 8% ventilated, 14% mechanical support, 86% inotropes, 25% BUN >39 mg/dL, 23% bilirubin ≥2 mg/dL, 31% RV : LV (left ventricular) diameter ≥0.75, 27% RA : PCWP (right atrium : pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) >0.63, 36% RV stroke work index <6 gm-m/m(2)/beat. The majority (91%) received pulmonary vasodilators early and in high dose: 72% nitric oxide, 77% sildenafil (max 200 ± 79 mg/day), 66% iloprost (max 126 ± 37 μg/day). Median hospital stay was 26 (21) days. No patient required RV mechanical support. Of six (9%) patients meeting RVF criteria based on prolonged need for inotropes, four were transplanted, one is alive with an LVAD at 3 years, and one died on day 35 of intracranial hemorrhage. Two-year survival was 77% (92% for HMII/HVAD): transplanted 54%, alive with LVAD 21%, recovery/explanted 2%. A low incidence of RVF and excellent outcomes were observed for patients treated early during LVAD implantation with combination, high-dose pulmonary vasodilators. The results warrant further investigation in a randomized controlled study.