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DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1297836
Initial clinical experience with the heartware left ventricular assist system
Objectives: Heartware is a novel, continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The aim of the present study is to review the results obtained in a single center with this device.
Methods: Forty-six patients underwent Heart Ware implantation between July 2009 and August 2011. The 37 men and 9 women had a mean age of 50.1yrs (range; 19–70). Underlying heart disease was end-stage ischemic heart disease (n=19), acute myocardial infarction (n=3), dilated cardiomyopathy (n=23), acute myocarditis (n=1). 15 patients underwent LVAD implantation in cardiogenic shock.
Fig.1: Survival
Results: After cumulative support duration of 9558 days, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a survival of 97.8%, 90.9%, 83.4%, 70.1%, at 1 and 6, 12 and 24 months respectively. 34 (72%) are still alive after a mean follow-up of 153 days (range; 0–700 days). During the in-hospital stay 7 patients died due to a multi-organ failure and 4 patients reported a major neurological complications causing death. A late death occurred due to a right heart failure. 9 patients has been successfully transplanted excepted one, who died due to a multi-organ failure. One patient revealed signs of heart recovery and now he has been scheduled for device weaning.
Conclusions: The initial experience with Heart Ware shows excellent outcomes. Further studies with a longer follow-up are needed in order to confirm those good results.