Frequency and Consequences of Right-Sided Heart Failure After Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Postoperative right-sided heart failure (RHF) is a common complication after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation. Studies have examined RHF in the perioperative period, but few have assessed late-onset RHF. We analyzed the incidence of early and late RHF in patients with HeartMate II and HeartWare left ventricular assist devices and associated morbidity, mortality, and independent predictors of RHF. We retrospectively analyzed records of 526 patients with chronic heart failure who underwent continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation; 147 (27.9%) developed RHF (early RHF, n = 87, 16.5%; late RHF, n = 74, 14.4%). We examined demographics, postoperative complications, and long-term survival rate. Patients with RHF or late RHF had higher mortality (p <0.001) than those without RHF. Patients with RHF had a higher incidence of acute kidney injury (20.4% vs 11.9%, p = 0.01). Device type did not affect the incidence of early, late, or overall RHF. Patients with severe RHF requiring right ventricular assist device support had a low success of bridge to transplantation (11.1% vs 33.3%, p = 0.02). In Cox regression models, RHF was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio = 1.69, 95% confidence interval = 1.28 to 2.22, p <0.001), but no predictive variables of RHF were identified. RHF was significantly associated with increased mortality and a higher incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury. RHF decreased the success rate of bridging patients to transplantation when a right ventricular assist device was required.