ISSN : 1301-5680
e-ISSN : 2149-8156
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery     
Outcomes of patients with left ventricular assist device infected with SARS-CoV-2
Ümit Kahraman1, Defne Güneş Ergi1, Burcu Yağmur2, Çağatay Engin1, Tahir Yağdı1, Sanem Nalbantgil2, Mustafa Özbaran1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medicine Faculty of Ege University, Izmir, Türkiye
2Department of Cardiology, Medicine Faculty of Ege University, Izmir, Türkiye
DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2022.23414
Background: The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristics, course, and outcomes of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in heart failure patients with left ventricular assist device.

Methods: Between November 2020 and August 2021, a total of 20 patients (18 males, 2 females; mean age: 57.0+10.0 years; range, 30 to 71 years) with left ventricular assist device and who were diagnosed by the COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction testing were included. For each patient, disease-related factors were evaluated including presence of hospitalization, home quarantine, presence of lung damage, antiviral medication strategy, symptomatology and complications following COVID-19.

Results: Seven patients 35% patients died in our cohort following the COVID-19. All these patients experienced variety of complications following COVID-19 including subarachnoid hemorrhage and right heart failure. Three patients were already hospitalized due to COVID-19 and decompensated progressively, resulting in death on Days 14, 4, and 7 after the initial diagnosis.

Conclusion: COVID-19 seems to be an important cause of mortality in patients with LVAD who have borderline cardiopulmonary function. Great care should be taken to avoid interruption in routine follow-ups with these patients, since they present a more sensitive population.

Keywords : COVID-19, left ventricular assist device, SARS-CoV-2, transplantation
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