Changes in the Functional Status Measures of Heart Failure Patients With Mechanical Assist Devices

• DOI: 10.1097/mat.0b013e3182816cb7
• Publication Date: 2013-02-23T15:42:33Z
• Authors: Evan S. Leibner; Joshua Cysyk; Kimber Eleuteri; Aly El-Banayosy; John P. Boehmer; Walter E. Pae
• Keywords: Limiting; Destination therapy

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (cfLVADs) have been proven safe and effective for bridge-to-transplant destination therapy (DT) in patients with advanced heart failure. However, the fixed pump speed of these may lack response to activity oxygen demand, thereby limiting exercise tolerance. The objective this observational study was describe capacity as measured by peak consumption (peak VO2) that be expected during support a cfLVAD. Peak VO2 (mean age: 58.3 ± 11.7 years; 66.7% ischemic 33.3% DT) before cfLVAD (11.2 3.0 ml/kg/min, n = 25), between 3 6 months (12.7 3.5 31), at 1 year (10.7 2.6 16), longer than 1.7 10). There no statistical improvement any time point after implantation. In addition, ventilatory efficiency remained poor LVAD implantation all points. Although studies shown an increase survival patient's quality life, cardiopulmonary testing remains low support.