title: Predictors and clinical relevance of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in ambulatory patients with a continuous flow left ventricular assist device.
abstract: Patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are at high risk for ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs).
  
  
  
  We aimed to identify clinical predictors of VTAs and subsequent outcomes after VTA in ambulatory LVAD patients.
  
  
  
  A retrospective study of 149 patients with a continuous flow HeartMate II LVAD who survived to discharge from index hospitalization after LVAD implantation was performed from January 10, 2005, to September 3, 2013. A multivariate Cox model was used to assess clinical predictors of VTAs.
  
  
  
  During a mean follow-up period of 2.1 ± 1.2 years, 41 patients (28%) experienced VTAs; 30 of these patients (71%) had ventricular tachycardia, and 11 (29%) had ventricular fibrillation. History of VTAs before LVAD (hazard ratio [HR] 3.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.57-5.96; P = .001) and history of atrial fibrillation (AF) (HR 3.13; 95% CI 1.60-6.11; P = .008) were the most powerful predictors of VTAs after LVAD implantation. There were 19 deaths (46%) among patients with VTAs and 15 deaths (14%) among patients without VTAs (P < .001). In multivariate analysis, time-dependent VTAs after LVAD implantation were associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality when compared with those without VTAs (HR 7.28; 95% CI 3.50-15.15; P < .001).
  
  
  
  In ambulatory LVAD patients, history of VTAs before LVAD implantation and history of AF predict VTAs after LVAD implantation. VTAs are associated with an increased risk of mortality. In such patients, aggressive measures to control VTAs and AF should be considered.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoruk
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Saadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sherazi
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: H Todd
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kutyifa
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McNitt
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hallinan
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Leway
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York. Electronic address: Mehmet_Aktas@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Mehmet K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Aktas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; Left ventricular assist device; Ventricular fibrillation; Ventricular tachycardia