ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Red blood cell distribution width is a measure of the variability in the size of circulating erythrocytes, which is calculated by automated blood cell counters as part of a routine blood cell count analysis. Our aim was to examine whether continuous flow left ventricular assist devices affected red blood cell distribution width. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 16 of 24 patients who received a HeartWare HVAD Pump (HeartWare Inc, Framingham, MA, USA) implant (continuous flow left ventricular assist device) between April 2012 and February 2015 at our institution. The mean age of the patients was 46.6 years. We compared patient erythrocyte, leucocyte, and platelet counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, mean corpuscular volume, and red blood cell distribution width values before and 6 months after implant. RESULTS: Hemoglobin level (P = .008), hematocrit level (P = .027), and mean corpuscular volume (P = .003) were significantly decreased; however, we observed no significant change in red blood cell distribution width. CONCLUSIONS: Although we did not find significant results in our group of patients with left ventricular assist device implant, a larger group of patients may show more significant results, and an increase in red blood cell distribution width can be used as an indicator of a negative prognosis in these patients.
Subject(s)
Anemia/blood , Erythrocyte Indices , Erythrocytes/pathology , Heart Failure/therapy , Heart-Assist Devices , Ventricular Function, Left , Adolescent , Adult , Anemia/diagnosis , Anemia/etiology , Biomarkers/blood , Child , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Female , Heart Failure/blood , Heart Failure/diagnosis , Heart Failure/physiopathology , Heart-Assist Devices/adverse effects , Hematocrit , Hemoglobins/metabolism , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Prosthesis Design , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Turkey , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The number of patients with end-stage cardiac failure who are waiting for transplant has been increasing, although number of heart donations stays limited. This has resulted in an increased use of left ventricular assist devices. Here, we present results of patients who received left ventricular assist device implants at Baskent University Ankara Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 24 patients who received a HeartWare left ventricular assist device (HeartWare Inc, Framingham, MA, USA) between April 2012 and February 2015; 2 patients (8.33%) were female. RESULTS: Patients had end-stage heart failure as a result of the following causes: 11 patients (45%) had ischemic cardiomyopathy, 12 patients (50%) had dilated cardiomyopathy, and 1 patient (4.1%) had acute myocarditis. Regarding use of the left ventricular assist device, 10 patients (41.6%) had the device as destination therapy, and the remaining 14 patients (48.6%) had it as bridge to transplant. The Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support Profile was 1 for 3 patients (12.5%), 2 for 9 patients (37.5%), and 3 for 12 patients (50%). Mean follow-up was 239.8 days, and the mortality rate was 33.3% (8 patients died). During follow-up, we found that 3 patients (12.5%) had received a heart transplant and 1 patient (4.1%) eventually recovered, with the device extracted. Six patients had driveline infections, and 3 patients had cerebrovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: With the insufficient number of cardiac donors, use of a left ventricular assist device for patients with end-stage cardiac failure who are awaiting transplant may be the best option.
