Faculty Collaboration Database

To explant or not to explant: an invasive and noninvasive monitoring protocol to determine the need of continued ventricular assist device support. Congest Heart Fail 2009;15(2):58-62

Date

04/24/2009

Pubmed ID

19385118

DOI

10.1111/j.1751-7133.2008.00028.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-65449181968 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   4 Citations

Abstract

Predictors of myocardial recovery after ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation are not well defined. The authors report their current VAD weaning protocol. Between 2003 and 2006, 38 patients received VAD implants. The authors performed 5 tests in 4 patients in whom echocardiography findings suggested myocardial recovery after implant. The protocol consists of assessing symptoms, electrocardiographic findings, hemodynamics, and cardiac function at baseline and as VAD support is weaned. As a result, 3 patients passed the weaning protocol and were explanted. There has been no recurrence of heart failure 667, 752, and 1007 days after explant, respectively. One patient failed the protocol after 151 days of support because of low cardiac index during the protocol. This patient was transplanted. This current experience of VAD weaning protocol is a novel tool to identify candidates for successful VAD explantation.

Author List

Osaki S, Sweitzer NK, Rahko PS, Murray MA, Hoffmann JA, Johnson MR, Edwards NM, Kohmoto T

Author

Takushi Kohmoto MD, PhD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Cardiotonic Agents
Device Removal
Dobutamine
Echocardiography
Female
Heart Failure
Heart-Assist Devices
Hemodynamics
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Milrinone
Myocardial Contraction
Recovery of Function
Ventricular Dysfunction, Left
Ventricular Function, Left