Liberal Right Ventricular Assist Device Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support for Right Ventricular Failure after Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Device Placement

Refractory right ventricular failure (RVF) after implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a dramatic complication. The addition of right ventricular assist device (RVAD) may improve RV recovery and lead to improve outcomes. From February 2012 to September 2014, 44 patients received a HeartMate II. These patients were retrospectively compared in two groups according to early liberal implantation of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) used as a RVAD established between a femoral vein and the pulmonary artery. Of the 44 patients, 22 required addition of a temporary RVAD (t-RVAD group). Patients are sicker in the t-RVAD group with significantly higher rate of preoperative extracorporeal life support (46% vs. 9%; p = 0.016) or any mechanical circulatory support (55% vs. 14%; p = 0.01), more preoperative hemofiltration (23% vs. 0%; p = 0.048), and more inotrope support by dobutamine (68.2% vs. 27.3%; p = 0.015). Likewise Michigan risk score was significantly higher in t-RVAD group (2.61 ± 2.2 vs. 1.0 ± 1.6 pts; p = 0.013) and INTERMACS clinical profile (2.1 ± 0.6 vs. 3.4 ± 1.3 pts; p = 0.0001). Despite severity of preimplant conditions in t-RVAD group, clinical outcomes did not differ in both groups with similar survival rate at 6 months (60.4 ± 12 vs. 71.4 ± 9.9%; p = 0.585). Early and liberal use of temporary RVAD in patients with risk factors of RVF could improve the prognostic after LVAD implantation.