Abstract TP334: Clinical Impact of Hematoma Expansion in LVAD Patients

Abstract

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients is a devastating complication. Hematoma expansion (HE) is associated with poor outcomes in ICH patients, but the impact of HE on LVAD patients is not known. Prevention of HE includes rapid and complete coagulopathy reversal, adding further potential complications in LVAD patients given the inherent risk of hardware thrombosis. We aimed to define the occurrence of HE in the LVAD population and to determine the association between HE and mortality in this population. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of ICH patients with preceding LVAD implantation admitted to Columbia University Irving Medical Center between Jan 2008 and April 2019. Intentionally matched ICH controls without LVADs were identified to compare rate of HE in LVAD and non LVAD patients. ICH volume was measured using ABC/2 method.We defined HE as an increase in hematoma volume of 6 ml or 33% comparing the first and last scan in 24 hours. Demographic data was compared using Pearson’s χ2 test for categorical variables and students T test and Wilcoxon rank sum test for normal and non-parametric continuous variables. The association between HE and hospital mortality in LVAD patients was examined using regression modeling after adjusting for Glasgow coma scale, age, hematoma size and location and admission INR. Results: Of605 LVAD patients, we identified 40 patients with ICH. Of these, 28 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean (SD) age of LVAD patients was 56 (10), 29% of patients were female and the majority (81%) of LVAD patients were supported by Heartmate II. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) baseline hematoma size was 20.1 ml (8.6-46.9), median (IQR) ICH score was 1 (1-2). HE occurred in 16 (57%) patients supported by LVAD, and in 50% of patients without LVAD with no difference (p=0.6).There was an association between HE and in-hospital mortality in LVAD patients after adjusting for admission ICH score and INR (OR of 20.5, 95% CI: 1.8-232.8). Conclusions: HE is a potentially modifiable risk factor for mortality. We demonstrate that LVAD patients experience HE at a similar rate to matched controls. We show that prevention of HE with anticoagulation reversal does not increase mortality.