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Correlation between driveline features and driveline infection in left ventricular assist device selection

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  • Artificial Heart (Clinical)
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Abstract

Although the survival rate for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy has improved, device-related complications are an unpredictable threat to the patient’s quality of life. We focused on driveline infection, and aimed to determine whether specific features of drivelines affect the frequency of infection. We enrolled patients who underwent LVAD implantation and were followed-up at our institute between 2007 and 2015. We counted the occurrences of driveline infection requiring any antibiotic therapy over a 2-year study period. Furthermore, we experimentally measured and compared the outer diameters and stiffness of three devices. Of all, 72 patients received an LVAD during the enrollment period. LVADs were HeartMate II (n = 32), EVAHEART (n = 22), and DuraHeart (n = 18). The outer diameters and stiffness were measured in five of each device. HeartMate II group had the highest driveline infection-free rate among all three devices during the study period (p = 0.042). The driveline of the HeartMate II LVAD had a significantly smaller outer diameter and lower stiffness than that of the other two devices (p < 0.05 for both). In conclusion, device-specific driveline features may affect the development of driveline infection during LVAD therapy.

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Acknowledgments

We express great appreciation for the offer of driveline samples from Thoratec and SUNMEDICAL Corporation and Terumo Heart, Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Teruhiko Imamura

  2. Department of Medical Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Takahide Murasawa & Koichi Kashiwa

  3. Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan

    Hironori Kawasaki

  4. Department of Cardiac Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Osamu Kinoshita, Kan Nawata & Minoru Ono

Authors
  1. Teruhiko Imamura
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  2. Takahide Murasawa
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  3. Hironori Kawasaki
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  4. Koichi Kashiwa
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  5. Osamu Kinoshita
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  6. Kan Nawata
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  7. Minoru Ono
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Correspondence to Teruhiko Imamura.

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Imamura, T., Murasawa, T., Kawasaki, H. et al. Correlation between driveline features and driveline infection in left ventricular assist device selection. J Artif Organs 20, 34–41 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10047-016-0923-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10047-016-0923-8

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