Objectives: Durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is traditionally performed via median sternotomy (MS). Less-invasive implantation may lower the incidence of postimplant right ventricular failure (RVF). Our primary objective was to determine whether less-invasive implantation reduces the odds of severe RVF compared to MS. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Participants: One hundred ninety-eight adult patients between January 2008 and August 2021. Interventions: Isolated LVAD implantation either via median sternotomy or via a less-invasive surgical approach. Measurements and Main Results: Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. A sensitivity analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis based on propensity scores was conducted. One hundred seventy-two patients were analyzed; 54% (94/172) underwent LVAD implantation via MS, and 45% (78/172) via less-invasive approaches. Age, sex, and comorbidities were comparable, but the MS group tended to be more critically ill prior to surgery. After adjusting for confounders, less-invasive approaches did not show significant protection against severe postimplant RVF compared to MS (adjusted odds ratio 0.53; 95% confidence interval 0.20-1.44; p = 0.21). However, patients undergoing less-invasive techniques had reduced adjusted odds of 30-day mortality (odds ratio 0.29; 95% confidence interval 0.09-0.99); p = 0.049). There was no observed benefit of less-invasive approaches over MS for major bleeding, prevention of blood product transfusion, and listing for transplantation. Conclusions: There was no reduction in the odds of severe RVF following LVAD implantation using less-invasive approaches versus MS. However, we found improved odds of 30-day survival in the less-invasive group. The underlying mechanism requires further investigation.
Right Ventricular Function Following Sternotomy Versus a Less-Invasive Approach for Left Ventricular Assist Device Implant: Retrospective Cohort Study
Besola, Laura;
2025-01-01
Abstract
Objectives: Durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is traditionally performed via median sternotomy (MS). Less-invasive implantation may lower the incidence of postimplant right ventricular failure (RVF). Our primary objective was to determine whether less-invasive implantation reduces the odds of severe RVF compared to MS. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Participants: One hundred ninety-eight adult patients between January 2008 and August 2021. Interventions: Isolated LVAD implantation either via median sternotomy or via a less-invasive surgical approach. Measurements and Main Results: Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. A sensitivity analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis based on propensity scores was conducted. One hundred seventy-two patients were analyzed; 54% (94/172) underwent LVAD implantation via MS, and 45% (78/172) via less-invasive approaches. Age, sex, and comorbidities were comparable, but the MS group tended to be more critically ill prior to surgery. After adjusting for confounders, less-invasive approaches did not show significant protection against severe postimplant RVF compared to MS (adjusted odds ratio 0.53; 95% confidence interval 0.20-1.44; p = 0.21). However, patients undergoing less-invasive techniques had reduced adjusted odds of 30-day mortality (odds ratio 0.29; 95% confidence interval 0.09-0.99); p = 0.049). There was no observed benefit of less-invasive approaches over MS for major bleeding, prevention of blood product transfusion, and listing for transplantation. Conclusions: There was no reduction in the odds of severe RVF following LVAD implantation using less-invasive approaches versus MS. However, we found improved odds of 30-day survival in the less-invasive group. The underlying mechanism requires further investigation.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.


