title: Correlation between driveline features and driveline infection in left ventricular assist device selection.
abstract: Although the survival rate for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy has improved, device-related complications are an unpredictable threat to the patient's quality of life. We focused on driveline infection, and aimed to determine whether specific features of drivelines affect the frequency of infection. We enrolled patients who underwent LVAD implantation and were followed-up at our institute between 2007 and 2015. We counted the occurrences of driveline infection requiring any antibiotic therapy over a 2-year study period. Furthermore, we experimentally measured and compared the outer diameters and stiffness of three devices. Of all, 72 patients received an LVAD during the enrollment period. LVADs were HeartMate II (n = 32), EVAHEART (n = 22), and DuraHeart (n = 18). The outer diameters and stiffness were measured in five of each device. HeartMate II group had the highest driveline infection-free rate among all three devices during the study period (p = 0.042). The driveline of the HeartMate II LVAD had a significantly smaller outer diameter and lower stiffness than that of the other two devices (p < 0.05 for both). In conclusion, device-specific driveline features may affect the development of driveline infection during LVAD therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. te.imamu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murasawa
authors.affiliation: Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashiwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nawata
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ono
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: Heart failure; HeartMate II; Stage D