Abstract
Despite the advancement in the left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), right heart failure (RHF) remains a challenging adverse event after LVAD implantation and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In this study, we sought to assess the role of cardiac magnetic resonance-derived right ventricular ejection fraction (CMR-RVEF) in predicting the risk of post-LVAD RHF. Overall baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between the patients who developed post-LVAD RHF and those who did not. A total of 42 patients who underwent CMR before LVAD implantation were included in this study. The mean CMR-RVEF was 25 ± 13%, with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (27.7 ± 13.9% vs 24.5 ± 12.3, p = 0.5). The mean of the CMR-derived right ventricular volume index trend was higher in those with post-LVAD RHF (76 ± 28 ml/m(2) vs 65 ± 25 ml/m(2); p = 0.31). In conclusion, in patients who underwent CMR before LVAD implantation, CMR-RVEF may not predict post-LVAD RHF. Large multicenter studies are needed to confirm this finding.