Incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients on long-term support with a continuous-flow assist device (HeartMate II).
The incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients supported with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has not been investigated in detail. In 23 consecutive recipients of a HeartMate II, we analyzed the incidence of VT/VF during a total of 266 months of follow-up. Sustained VT or VF occurred in 52% of the patients, with the majority of arrhythmias occurring in the first 4 weeks after LVAD implantation. VT/VF requiring implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shock or external defibrillation occurred in 8 patients and significant hemodynamic instability ensued in 3 patients. There were no clear predictors of VT/VF, and it is argued that prophylactic ICD implantation should be considered in patients supported with a continuous-flow LVAD.
Andersen
Mads
M
Department of Cardiology, The Heart Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. madsand@dadlnet.dk
Videbaek
Regitze
R
Boesgaard
Søren
S
Sander
Kåre
K
Hansen
Peter B
PB
Gustafsson
Finn
F
D000328:Adult; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy