AI Article Synopsis
- * Results showed that 52% of patients experienced sustained VT/VF, mostly within the first four weeks after receiving the LVAD.
- * Eight patients needed defibrillation treatments due to VT/VF, and the authors suggest implementing preventive measures, like implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), for patients on continuous-flow LVAD support, despite not finding clear risk predictors.
Article Abstract
The incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients supported with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has not been investigated in detail. In 23 consecutive recipients of a HeartMate II, we analyzed the incidence of VT/VF during a total of 266 months of follow-up. Sustained VT or VF occurred in 52% of the patients, with the majority of arrhythmias occurring in the first 4 weeks after LVAD implantation. VT/VF requiring implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shock or external defibrillation occurred in 8 patients and significant hemodynamic instability ensued in 3 patients. There were no clear predictors of VT/VF, and it is argued that prophylactic ICD implantation should be considered in patients supported with a continuous-flow LVAD.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healun.2009.03.011 | DOI Listing |
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