Pre-Operative Pectoralis Muscle Measures by Computed Tomography Predict Early Right Heart Failure Deaths After Left Ventricular Assist Device

Right ventricular (RV) failure after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) causes significant morbidity and mortality, and remains difficult to predict preoperatively. Pectoralis muscle mass and attenuation on preoperative CT scans are predictors of mortality after LVAD implantation. Because RV failure is associated with skeletal muscle wasting, we hypothesized that pectoralis muscle measures may be associated with RV failure related mortality.

Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - March 31, 2018 Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: R. Cogswell, L. Teigen, J. Schultz, T. Thenappan, L. Lin, J. Kealhofer, C. Martin, R. John Source Type: research