Abstract 19195: Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility Index Predicts Right Ventricular Failure Following LVAD Surgery
Introduction: Identification of pre-operative right ventricular dysfunction may improve patient selection for isolated LVAD surgery. The pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PaPi) is a recently described hemodynamic metric. We evaluated baseline PaPi as a predictor of post-operative right ventricular failure (RVF) following LVAD surgery. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 132 consecutive LVAD implantations at our hospital. Demographic, clinical, hemodynamic and echocardiographic data were evaluated for their association with the development of RVF. RVF was defined as need for RVAD or inotrope dependence for greater than 14 days. PaPi was calculated as [(systolic pulmonary artery pressure-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure)/right atrial (RA) pressure]. Univariate analysis was performed to identify baseline predictors of RVF. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for baseline RA pressure. Results: RVF occurred in 31 of 132 patients (23%); all cases were due to prolonged inotropes. PaPi was lower among patients with RVF compared to those without (no RVF: mean 2.75± SD1.17 vs RVF: 1.38±0.46, P<0.0001). RA pressure, RA to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio (RA/PCWP) and RV stroke work index (RVSWI) were also associated with RVF. Previously identified markers of RV function including mean pulmonary artery pressure and qualitative RV dysfunction by 2D echo were not associated with RVF. Comparison of the area under the curve from receiver operator characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that a PaPi<1.85 was most predictive of RVF (Figure). PaPi remained an independent predictor of RVF after adjusting for RA pressure in a multivariate model. Conclusions: PaPi is a routinely available and easily calculated hemodynamic variable associated with RVF following LVAD surgery superior to established markers. Further evaluation of PaPi as part of a risk prediction model to guide clinical decision making may be warranted.