Left Ventricular Assist Device Use in Bi-Ventricular Configurations: It Takes Two To Tango

Right heart failure (RHF) remains an Achilles heel of durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy.1 Not only are pre-operative predictors for RHF difficult to develop and apply but the emergence of unique phenotypes of late onset RHF continue to perplex clinicians.2 Prediction models to reliably define need for intraoperative right ventricular support have been difficult to develop, lack sufficient predictive capability and clinicians are left to employ intraoperative decisional tools based on hemodynamic outcomes during implantation of a left sided device or within hours to days following surgery.
Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research