Pre-Operative Pectoralis Muscle Quantity and Attenuation by Computed Tomography are Predictive of Recurrent Gastrointestinal Bleeding on Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

Pectoralis muscle mass and tissue attenuation obtained on preoperative CT scans are powerful predictors of mortality after LVAD implantation. Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding remains a common problem on mechanical support. It is unknown whether these skeletal muscle measures, which correlate with frailty and tissue quality, are associated with the development of recurrent GI bleeding.
Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Source Type: research