Clinical and Prognostic Role of Noninvasive Hemodynamic Assessment in Left Ventricular Assist Device Carriers

Persistence of heart failure symptoms or suboptimal hemodynamic is a frequent condition in LVAD carriers, associated with adverse outcome. Invasive hemodynamic optimization was associated with a better outcome. Our group recently validated an echocardiographic protocol to noninvasively assess hemodynamics of LVAD patients. Aim of this prospective study was to investigate its utility in clinical practice and its prognostic role. From February 2016 to February 2019 fifty-five LVAD carriers (HVAD/HM3 34/21; age 61 +/- 10 years, 89% males; INTERMACS profile at LVAD implantation <= 3 68%). A two-phased protocol was performed. First, the patient underwent clinical evaluation. Second, an echo-Doppler blinded to clinical data was performed. Clinical and echo-Doppler evaluation both identified patients with optimal hemodynamic profile (normal left and right estimated atrial pressures) versus other profiles. clinical evaluation overestimated the presence of an optimal profile compared with echo-Doppler (83% vs. 59%). The presence of overt heart failure identified patients with the highest risk of adverse outcomes (death or hospitalization for HF at 6 months: HR 15, 95% CI, 5.5-39, P < 0.001). An optimal profile by echo-Doppler was associated with a better outcome among patients without overt heart failure (death or hospitalization for HF at 6 months: HR 0.08, 95% CI, 0.01.5-0.64, P < 0.02). After echo-Doppler, the clinician modified treatment in 46 cases (37%). Noninvasive evaluation of hemodynamics by echo-Doppler adds significant prognostic information in LVAD patients without overt HF and is a valuable tool to tailor treatment in the outpatient follow-up of LVAD carriers.

Automated summary

Persistent heart failure symptoms or suboptimal hemodynamics are common in LVAD carriers and associated with adverse outcomes. Our group validated a noninvasive echocardiographic protocol to evaluate hemodynamics in LVAD patients. This study aimed to investigate its utility and prognostic role in clinical practice.