HeartMate left ventricular assist device as bridge to heart transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Because of the limited supply of donor hearts, prospective recipients continue to die while on the waiting list for heart transplantation. Use of long-term mechanical circulatory support devices as a bridge to transplantation may reduce this mortality. However, with the present state of technology, continued clinical evaluation of the various long-term, mechanical circulatory support devices available is mandatory.


METHODS
Sixteen patients were bridged with the HeartMate left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to heart transplantation for New York Heart Association functional class IV cardiac failure. Twelve pneumatic and six electric devices were used. The mean cardiac index and the mean pulmonary vascular resistance of the patient cohort were 1.71 x min(-1) x m(-2) and 3.1 Wood units, respectively.


RESULTS
The mean LVAD support time per transplanted patient was 237 days, with a cumulative LVAD support time of about 7.2 years. Bleeding was the main operative and postoperative complication. Two patients suffered from neurologic complications and there were two major incidents of device malfunction. Twelve patients (75%) now have received a transplant, 3 (19%) are awaiting a transplant, and in 1 patient (6%), the device was explanted after spontaneous left ventricular recovery. Eleven of the 12 patients who received a transplant are alive and doing well. The HeartMate LVAD gave adequate circulatory support over extended periods of time and reversed the vital organ dysfunction. Since the start of the LVAD program, only 1 patient has died on our heart transplantation waiting list, compared to nine deaths in the 2 preceding years.


CONCLUSIONS
The HeartMate LVAD bridge to heart transplantation can be performed with low post-LVAD implantation and posttransplantation mortality and offers 1- and 2-year posttransplantation actuarial survival rates comparable to those for nonbridged heart transplant recipients.
Koul
B
B
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital in Lund, Sweden.
Solem
J O
JO
Steen
S
S
Casimir-Ahn
H
H
Granfeldt
H
H
Lönn
U J
UJ
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D008875:Middle Aged; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D014850:Waiting Lists