ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A consensus has not yet been reached regarding which COVID-19 vaccine program should be applied in patients with ventricular assist device (VAD). Our aim was to assess the clinical outcome of inactivated, mRNA and heterologous vaccine program in patient with VAD. METHODS: In this retrospective and cross-sectional study; adult patients who underwent VAD implantation between January 2012 and September 2021 and received any vaccine that were used in Republic of Türkiye for COVID-19, were included. The patients were divided into three groups according to the type of vaccine; "inactivated," "mRNA" and "heterologous." Clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were in each group in the "inactivated," "mRNA" and "heterologous" groups. Mean age was 51.6 ± 12 years in "inactivated" group, 42.5 ± 15.5 years in "mRNA" group and 41.1 ± 15.4 years in "heterologous" group. There was no significant difference between the groups in age, gender, body surface area, body mass index and etiology (p > 0.05). After last dose of vaccines, the number of patients had COVID-19 positive test were three (16.7%), one (5.6%), and two (11.1%) in "inactivated," "mRNA" and "heterologous" groups, respectively. Pump thrombosis was seen in two patients in "mRNA" group and one patient in "heterologous" group. No pump thrombosis was seen in "inactivated" group. COVID-19-related death or intubation was not observed. CONCLUSION: All vaccine that used for COVID-19 are safe and effective in patients with VAD. In countries that give priority to inactivated vaccines, mRNA vaccines may then be made as boosters.