title: To explant or not to explant: an invasive and noninvasive monitoring protocol to determine the need of continued ventricular assist device support.
abstract: Predictors of myocardial recovery after ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation are not well defined. The authors report their current VAD weaning protocol. Between 2003 and 2006, 38 patients received VAD implants. The authors performed 5 tests in 4 patients in whom echocardiography findings suggested myocardial recovery after implant. The protocol consists of assessing symptoms, electrocardiographic findings, hemodynamics, and cardiac function at baseline and as VAD support is weaned. As a result, 3 patients passed the weaning protocol and were explanted. There has been no recurrence of heart failure 667, 752, and 1007 days after explant, respectively. One patient failed the protocol after 151 days of support because of low cardiac index during the protocol. This patient was transplanted. This current experience of VAD weaning protocol is a novel tool to identify candidates for successful VAD explantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792-3236, USA. osaki@surgery.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.forename: Nancy K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Sweitzer
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rahko
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Maryl R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Niloo M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Takushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohmoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020878:Device Removal; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020105:Milrinone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004280:Dobutamine; D020105:Milrinone