Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation Is an Effective Therapy for Decreasing Pulmonary Hypertension and Reducing Heart Transplant Allograft Right Ventricular Strain

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a major, and often prohibitive, risk factor for post-heart transplant right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Pharmacologically effective therapies for PH are limited. Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) unload the pulmonary circulation and theoretically decrease pulmonary pressures. We hypothesized that pre-heart transplant LVAD implant will treat pulmonary hypertension and minimize right ventricular stroke work index (RVSWI, net right ventricular work/beat) thereby improving allograft RV function and minimizing post-transplant RV dysfunction.