Association between pulmonary artery pulsatility and mortality after implantation of left ventricular assist device

Abstract

AbstractAimsRight ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a major concern that remains challenging to predict. We sought to investigate the relationship between preoperative pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) and mortality after LVAD implantation.Methods and resultsA retrospective analysis of the ASSIST‐ICD multicentre registry allowed the assessment of PAPi before LVAD according to the formula [(systolic pulmonary artery pressure − diastolic pulmonary artery pressure)/central venous pressure]. The primary endpoint was survival at 3 months, according to the threshold value of PAPi determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A multivariate analysis including demographic, echographic, haemodynamic, and biological variables was performed to identify predictive factors for 2 year mortality. One hundred seventeen patients were included from 2007 to 2021. The mean age was 58.45 years (±13.16), with 15.4% of women (sex ratio 5.5). A total of 53.4% were implanted as bridge to transplant and 43.1% as destination therapy. Post‐operative right ventricular failure was observed in 57 patients (48.7%), with no significant difference between survivors and non‐survivors at 1 month (odds ratio 1.59, P = 0.30). The median PAPi for the whole study population was 2.83 [interquartile range 1.63–4.69]. The threshold value of PAPi determined by the ROC curve was 2.84. Patients with PAPi ≥ 2.84 had a higher survival rate at 3 months [PAPi < 2.84: 58.1% [46.3–72.8%] vs. PAPi ≥ 2.84: 89.1% [81.1–97.7%], hazard ratio (HR) 0.08 [0.02–0.28], P < 0.01], with no significant difference after 3 months (HR 0.67 [0.17–2.67], P = 0.57). Other predictors of 2 year mortality were systemic hypertension (HR 4.22 [1.49–11.97], P < 0.01) and diabetes mellitus (HR 4.90 [1.83–13.14], P < 0.01). LVAD implantation as bridge to transplant (HR 0.18 [0.04–0.74], P = 0.02) and heart transplantation (HR 0.02 [0.00–0.18], P < 0.01) were associated with a higher survival rate at 2 years.ConclusionsPreoperative PAPi < 2.84 was associated with a higher risk of early mortality after LVAD implantation without impacting 2 year outcomes among survivors.