Increase in circadian variation after continuous-flow ventricular assist device implantation.
The circadian rhythm of varying blood pressure and heart rate is attenuated or absent in patients with severe heart failure. In 28 patients supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for at least 30 days, a restoration of the circadian rhythm was demonstrated by a consistent nocturnal decrease, and then increase, of the LVAD flow while at a constant LVAD speed. The return of the circadian rhythm has implications for cardiac recovery, and the observation indicates that the continuous-flow LVAD has an intrinsic automatic response to physiologic demands.
Slaughter
Mark S
MS
Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. mark.slaughter@louisville.edu
Ising
Michael S
MS
Tamez
Daniel
D
O'Driscoll
Gerry
G
Voskoboynikov
Neil
N
Bartoli
Carlo R
CR
Koenig
Steven C
SC
Giridharan
Guruprasad A
GA
D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies