title: Right heart failure post left ventricular assist device implantation.
abstract: Right heart failure (RHF) is a frequent complication following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The incidence of RHF complicates 20-50% (range, 9-44%) of cases and is a major factor of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, despite the fact that many risk factors contributing to the development of RHF after LVAD implantation have been identified, it seems to be extremely difficult to avoid them. Prevention of RHF consists of the management of the preload and the afterload of the right ventricle with optimum inotropic support. The administration of vasodilators designed to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance is standard practice in most centers. The surgical attempt of implantation of a right ventricular assist device does not always resolve the problem and is not available in all cardiac surgery centers.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Mihalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Argiriou
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Styliani-Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kolokotron
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakellaridis
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Orestis
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Argiriou
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charitos
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsikogiannis
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kougioumtzi
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Machairiotis
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsiouda
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Kosmas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsakiridis
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Transplantation Unit, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Hospital, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
keywords: Right heart failure (RHF); afterload; assist device; preload