Cardiac Recovery During Long-Term Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

Background

The number of centers with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) research programs focused on cardiac recovery is very small. Therefore, this phenomenon has been reported in real-world multi-center registries as a rare event.

Objectives

This study evaluated the incidence of cardiac recovery with an a priori LVAD implantation strategy of bridge-to-recovery (BTR) and constructed a recovery predictive model.

Methods

The study included LVAD recipients registered in the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS). Cardiac recovery was evaluated in BTR and non-BTR patients. A weighted score was derived and externally validated in patients of the Utah Cardiac Recovery (UCAR) program.

Results

Of 15,138 INTERMACS patients, cardiac recovery occurred in 192 (1.3%). The incidence of recovery was 11.2% (n = 14) in BTR compared with 1.2% (n = 178) in non-BTR patients (p Conclusions

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