Incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients on long-term support with a continuous-flow assist device (HeartMate II)
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 7 |
Pages (from-to) | 733-5 |
Number of pages | 2 |
ISSN | 1053-2498 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Adult; Defibrillators, Implantable; Electric Countershock; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Diseases; Heart-Assist Devices; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Ventricular Fibrillation
ID: 19867560