Open AccessPulmonary function assessment post‐left ventricular assist device implantation
Author(s) -
Sajgalik Pavol,
Kim ChulHo,
Stulak John M.,
Kushwaha Sudhir S.,
Maltais Simon,
Joyce David L.,
Joyce Lyle D.,
Johnson Bruce D.,
Schirger John A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
esc heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.787
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 2055-5822
DOI - 10.1002/ehf2.12348
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary wedge pressure , cardiology , ejection fraction , ventricular assist device , vital capacity , heart failure , pulmonary function testing , lung , diffusing capacity , lung function
Aim The lungs—and particularly the alveolar‐capillary membrane—may be sensitive to continuous flow (CF) and pulmonary pressure alterations in heart failure (HF). We aimed to investigate long‐term effects of CF pumps on respiratory function. Methods and results We conducted a retrospective study of patients with end‐stage HF at our institution. We analysed pulmonary function tests [e.g. forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 )] and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide ( D LCO ) from before and after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and compared them with invasive haemodynamic studies. Of the 274 patients screened, final study analysis involved 44 patients with end‐stage HF who had CF LVAD implantation between 1 February 2007 and 31 December 2015 at our institution. These patients [mean (standard deviation, SD) age, 50 (9) years; male sex, n = 33, 75%] received either the HeartMate II (Thoratec Corp.) pump (77%) or the HeartWare (HeartWare International Inc.) pump. The mean (SD) left ventricular ejection fraction was 21% (13%). At a median of 237 days post‐LVAD implantation, we observed significant D LCO decrease (−23%) since pre‐implantation ( P < 0.001). Δ D LCO had an inverse relationship with changes in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and right atrial pressure (RAP) from pre‐LVAD to post‐LVAD implantation: Δ D LCO to ΔPCWP ( r = 0.50, P < 0.01) and Δ D LCO to ΔRAP ( r = 0.39, P < 0.05). We observed other reductions in FEV 1 , FVC, and FEV 1 /FVC between pre‐LVAD and post‐LVAD implantation. In mean (SD) values, FEV 1 changed from 2.3 (0.7) to 2.1 (0.7) ( P = 0.005); FVC decreased from 3.2 (0.8) to 2.9 (0.9) ( P = 0.01); and FEV 1 /FVC went from 0.72 (0.1) to 0.72 (0.1) ( P = 0.50). Landmark survival analysis revealed that Δ D LCO from 6 months after LVAD implantation was predictive of death for HF patients [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), 0.60 (0.28–0.98); P = 0.03]. Conclusions Pulmonary function did not improve after LVAD implantation. The degree of D LCO deterioration is related to haemodynamic status post‐LVAD implantation. The Δ D LCO within 6 months post‐operative was associated with survival.