title: Uncorrected pre-operative mitral valve regurgitation is not associated with adverse outcomes after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is prevalent in patients with heart failure. Because very few data exist examining the influence of significant pre-operative MR on outcomes after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, we evaluate our experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between October 1996 and August 2013, 756 patients underwent primary LVAD implantation at our institutions. Of these, 508 patients received a continuous-flow LVAD and represent the contemporary cohort for this analysis. Devices implanted included the HeartMate II in 410 patients (81%) and HeartWare HVAD in 98 patients (19%). Based on availability of pre-operative echocardiography, 491 patients were divided into 2 study groups according to degree of pre-operative MR; 189 patients (39%) had moderate to severe or greater MR (MR group), and 302 (61%) had less than moderate to severe MR (less MR group). Median age at operation (60 years in MR group vs 58 years in less MR group, p = 0.19), male sex (78% in MR group vs 81% in less MR group, p = 0.42), and ischemic etiology (46% in MR group vs 51% in less MR group, p = 0.35) were similar between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 40 early deaths (7.9%), and follow-up was available in all 468 early survivors for 641 patient-years of support. Patients in the MR group had higher late survival (2 years, 75%; 4 years, 65%) compared with patients in the less MR group (2 years, 66%; 4 years, 48%; p < 0.04). Cox proportional hazards model confirmed the independent interaction between MR and late survival (hazard ratio 0.62, p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was improved survival in patients with severe pre-operative MR after continuous-flow LVAD implantation in our cohort. These findings may lend insight into the possible lack of value of addressing significant MR at the time of LVAD implantation.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota. Electronic address: stulak.john@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stulak
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Vakhtang
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tchantchaleishvili
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Haglund
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schirger
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cowger
authors.affiliation: Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Virginia.
authors.forename: Palak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Aaronson
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Francis D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maltais
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: cardiomyopathy; heart failure; mechanical support; mitral valve regurgitation; ventricular assist device