Japanese multicenter clinical evaluation of the HeartMate vented electric left ventricular assist system

Implantable left ventricular assist device systems (LVAS) are increasingly being used to bridge patients to heart transplantation because of the limited number of available donor hearts. This prospective, multicenter trial was designed to evaluate the usefulness of the HeartMate vented electric (VE) LVAS as a bridge to transplantation in Japan. Between November 2001 and June 2003, six patients with end-stage heart failure [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV] were supported with the LVAS and five of the six were able to implement the evaluation (one dropped out). The five were men with an average age of 38.6 years and were supported for 2390 cumulative days (6.6 years). Average preimplant cardiac index improved from 1.93 l/min/m² to a 3.79 l/min/m² VAD flow index at the end of the clinical trial. All five patients improved to NYHA class I or II, survived more than 1 year, and one patient was discharged from the hospital. Mean LVAS support duration was 478 days (range 390–575 days) and four patients remain supported. One patient died from cardiac failure and sepsis. Device-related complications included: infections (four patients), thromboembolism (one patient), hemolysis (two patients), and repeat operation for bleeding (two patients). There was one case of inflow valve incompetence and two pump motor malfunctions. We conclude that the LVAS can effectively support patients as they await cardiac transplantation and offers improvement to the patient’s quality of life.     

Risk factors of voiding dysfunction and patient satisfaction after tension-free vaginal tape procedure

This study was undertaken to identify risk factors for postoperative voiding dysfunction and factors having impact on patient global satisfaction after a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. Two hundred and eighty-five women who underwent the TVT procedure for stress urinary incontinence were analyzed to identify risk factors predictive of voiding dysfunction. Postoperative voiding dysfunction was defined as a peak urinary flow rate (PFR) <10 mL/sec (straining voiding, n = 17) or residual urine volume >30% of bladder capacity (incomplete emptying, n = 13). The global satisfaction rate was 91.6%. Voiding dysfunction developed in 29 (10.2%) patients. Among the factors, PFR was only factor of significance for voiding dysfunction. There was no significant difference between patients with and without voiding dysfunction in terms of their satisfaction. But postoperative PFR <10 mL/sec significantly compromised global satisfaction after the surgery. In those patients with a preoperative PFR <20 mL/sec, there were more patients with postoperative PFR <10 mL/sec. Peak urinary flow rate is an important factor for the postoperative voiding dysfunction. The inevitable decline in PFR can compromise patients' satisfaction with the procedure, when their postoperative PFR was <10 mL/sec.     

Pulsatile blood pump with a linear drive actuator

The main purpose of this study was to develop an implantable direct-electromagnetic left ventricular assist system driven by a linear actuator (linear LVAS). The linear LVAS is a pulsatile pump with a pusher plate that is driven directly by a linear oscillatory actuator (LOA) without any movement converters. This prototype pump unit with a LOA was 100 mm in diameter, 50 mm in thickness, and weighed 740 g. The full-fill/full-eject driving method was applied to the control algorithm. In addition, a mechanism to detect and release sucking was realized to overcome this problem that accompanies the active-filling type of VAS. The performance of the linear LVAS was evaluated in a long-term animal experiment using a goat (56 kg). The goat survived for 42 days. The reason why we terminated this experiment was that thrombus was found in the pump. There was no frictional debris found around the LOA. The linear LVAS did not exhibit electrical or mechanical problems during the first animal experiment.     

Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system as a bridge to left ventricular assist system (LVAS) implantation: Analysis of its role in the treatment of end-stage cardiac disease

The key to the successful implantation of a left ventricular assist system (LVAS) for patients with endstage cardiac disease is whether the functions of other vital organs are irreversibly damaged or not. The percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system (PCPS) is not only equal in convenience to the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), it is more powerful in resuscitating impaired end-organ function. To investigate the efficacy of PCPS for end-state cardiac disease, we retrospectively analyzed end-organ function before and after the application of PCPS. From 1992 to 1996, five cardiomyopathy patients with deteriorated end-organ function despite the application of IABP underwent PCPS support before implantation of LVAS. Urine volume and levels of liver enzymes (sAST and sALT) and serum creatinine were determined before and after the application of PCPS. After the application of PCPS, the urine output increased significantly (1840±450 to 4340±470 ml/day,P<0.01) and levels of sAST, sALT, and serum creatinine decreased significantly (630±220 to 150±50IU/l, 630±260 to 260±130IU/l, and 2.9±0.5 to 1.2±0.1 mg/dl, respectively) (P<0.05). All five patients were successfully bridged to LVAS implantation and none of them died of multiple organ failure caused by pre-existing cardiac failure although one out of five patients died on device ultimately. These results indicated that PCPS before LVAS implantation is useful to resuscitate impaired end-organ function and to improve the survival rate of LVAS implantation for end-stage cardiac disease.     

Cardiovascular surgery in chronic hemodialysis patients

 Renal failure increases the morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. To investigate the adequacy of perioperative management and intraoperative techniques for cardiac operations, we retrospectively analyzed data from 25 patients (4 women and 21 men, with a mean age of 57.4 ± 7.7 years) with chronic renal failure who underwent cardiovascular surgery. The hospital mortality rate was 8.0%. Eleven postoperative complications were observed in 25 patients. The main complications were low cardiac output syndrome (with intraaortic balloon pump insertion in 4 cases), postoperative gastrointestinal tract bleeding (3 cases), and mediastinitis (2 cases). These results demonstrate that preoperative chronic renal failure increases mortality and morbidity; however, good operative outcome can be obtained with careful perioperative management. Received: February 23, 1999 / Accepted: July 16, 2002 Correspondence to:H. Shimpo     

Computer assisted design for the implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) blood pump using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM)

Thrombus formation and hemolysis are critical issues in the design of a long-term implantable LVAS (left ventricular assist system). The fluid dynamic characteristics of the blood flow are one of the main factors that cause thrombus formation and hemolysis. In this study, we optimized blood chamber geometry, port design, and fluid dynamics in our implantable LVAS to ensure minimization of shear-stress-related blood damage. A blood pump chamber (stroke volume, 65 ml) and an inflow and outflow port were designed with three-dimensional CAD (computer-aided-design) software (Pro-Engineering version 20) and estimated by FEM (fine-element method) computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis (Ansys version 5.5). We adopted three-dimensional distribution of CFD results for qualitative evaluation, and we also tried to estimate the normalized index of hemolysis (NIH) and time-series change of hematocrit from the results of CFD analysis as quantitative index of optimization for geometry of the blood pump chamber. With the use of this design, the blood pump geometry was optimized as the decrease of NIH from 2.72 g/1001 in the first model to 0.098 g/1001 in the second model, corresponding to the decrease in shear stress. The hematocrit also improved from 0.7% in the first model to 11.5% in the second model 2 years after implantation of the pump. Areas where flow stagnation was observed in the first model were free of stagnation in the second model. The results show that computer-aided design of the blood pump contributes to optimizing a blood pump chamber for reducing thrombus formation and hemolysis, and also contributes to reducing cost and time in developing the implantable LVAS.     

Impact of preoperative mild renal dysfunction on short term outcome in isolated Coronary Artery Bypass (CABG) patients

Background and Aim:

It is well known that dialysis dependent renal failure increases the likelihood of poor outcome following cardiac surgery. But the results of CABG in patients with mild renal dysfunction are not clearly established. The aim of the study is to analyze the risk of preoperative mild renal dysfunction on outcome after isolated coronary surgery.

Materials and Methods:

We reviewed prospectively collected data between June 2006-Nov 2006 in 488 patients who underwent isolated CABG. We separated the data into two groups. Control group having normal renal function and study group having mild renal dysfunction (serum creatinine 1.4 mg-2.2 mg%). Among 488 patients, 412 patients were in control group and 76 patients were in the study group.

Results:

Analysis of data showed significant postoperative complications in the mild renal dysfunction group, like increased operative mortality (7.5% vs 1.6%), increased requirement of postoperative renal replacement therapy (10% vs 1.2%), increased incidence of new onset atrial fibrillation (20% vs 4.2%) and prolonged duration of ICU stay. Multivariate analysis adjusting for known risk factors confirmed preoperative mild renal dysfunction (S.creat.1.4-2.2 mg/dl) is an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. (Adj. OR: 4.47; 95% CI: 1.41-14.16; P=0.010).

Conclusion:

Mild renal dysfunction is an important independent predictor of outcome in terms of in-hospital mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing CABG.     

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a “bridge to recovery” in a case of myotomy for myocardial bridge complicated by biventricular dysfunction

The incidence of cardiac dysfunction after routine cardiac surgical procedures is quite high (3–5%), but the majority of patients improve using inotropic drugs or intraaortic ballon counterpulsation. However, approximately 1% of these patients do not benefit from using these supports, and they need more invasive strategies, such as ventricular assist devices. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is one of them, and it offers biventricular support, can be managed very easily and is one of the cheapest devices. We describe our experience with ECMO in a case of postocardiotomy failure after myotomy for myocardial bridge. Because of failure of medical therapy, we decided to perform surgical myotomy of the bridge and coronary artery bypass grafting of the LAD with the left internal mammary artery. Many episodes of ventricular fibrillation occurred with quick worsening of biventricular function requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. The pump flow was maintained at about 1.8–2 l/m² (about 80% of the ideal flow) in order to reduce cardiac work offering a more rapid recovery of cardiac function. ECMO support was slowly reduced because EKG progressively improved and the hemodynamic parameters were stable. ECMO was interrupted in the 4th postoperative day when mean pressure was >90 mmHg and organ perfusion was adequate. The particularity of our case was the complicated management of MB: it is very uncommon that myotomy of the LAD results in biventricular dysfunction. Our experience confirms that benign pathologies such as MB may hide life-threatening complications and that ECMO support is the simplest solution in case of biventricular dysfunction.     

脊柱转移瘤姑息性切除减压内固定联合骨水泥填充的临床疗效研究

目的探讨姑息性切除减压内固定联合骨水泥填充对脊柱转移瘤的临床疗效。方法对2016年1月至2017年12月在本院行姑息性切除减压内固定联合骨水泥填充术的37例患者行回顾性研究。其中,男21例,女16例;年龄23～71岁,平均(55.0±10.4)岁;受侵犯椎体数为64个,其中胸椎37个,腰椎27个。记录术中出血量、手术时间、单个椎体骨水泥注入量,以及术前、术后视觉模拟评分(visual analogue score,VAS)和Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI),通过影像学资料评估术前及术后椎体前缘、椎体中部高度变化。结果所有患者手术顺利,随访时间12～18个月,平均(14.7±2.0)个月。随访期间,未出现内固定松动者,1例患者出现手术切口感染,经抗生素治疗及换药后好转,无需外科干预。1例患者于术后16个月因肿瘤转移引起多器官衰竭而死亡。患者术后1周、术后半年及术后1年时的VAS评分及ODI指数和术前相比,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。术后1周、术后半年及术后1年时的椎体前缘高度及椎体中部高度与术前相比,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论脊柱转移瘤姑息性切除减压内固定联合骨水泥填充术能明显缓解患者疼痛,改善功能障碍,维持椎体高度,保护脊柱生物力学稳定性,治疗效果持久,对于改善晚期肿瘤患者的生存质量有积极的意义。     

Echocardiographic prediction of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome in patients with mitral stenosis

Thirty-eight patients were operated on for mitral stenosis between March 1979 and September 1981. Thirty-six of them were examined as to their age, symptom duration, chest roentgenograms, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms to obtain various indices of left ventricular function. The usefulness of these indices as preoperative risk factors for predicting postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LOS) was investigated. Cases which had values of ejection fraction, cardiac index, percent fiber shortening or mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening less than 0.45, 2.0 l/min/m2, 25% and 0.80 circ/sec, respectively, in the preoperative echocardiographic examination were associated with a greater chance of postoperative LOS. Each of these factors was independently useful as a risk factor in cardiac surgery for mitral stenosis. Moreover, it was revealed that the combination of a preoperative percent fractional shortening (%FS) of less than 30% and a cardiac index smaller than 2.0 l/min/m2 indicated a strong predisposition toward postoperative LOS.     

Fifteen-year experience with Toyobo paracorporeal left ventricular assist system

Our 15-year experience of the Toyobo paracorporeal left ventricular assist system (LVAS) at Osaka University Hospital was reviewed. In total, 61 patients underwent Toyobo LVAS implantation from January 1992 to August 2007. Their mean age was 38.1 ± 16.9 years. The etiologies of heart failure were idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 35 patients, ischemic cardiomyopathy in 15, myocarditis in 5, secondary cardiomyopathy in 4, and others in 2. Preoperatively, intubation was required in 41 patients (67.3%), an intra-aortic balloon pump was required in 38 (62.3%), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required in 30 (49.2%). Four patients underwent heart transplantation and 11 underwent LVAS removal. Of those 11 patients, 4 were subjected to emergent removal because of device complications and all of them died. Of the 7 patients that underwent scheduled LVAS removal, heart failure recurred in 2 patients and reimplantation was required. In terms of major device-related complications, cerebral hemorrhage occurred in 16 patients (26.2%), cerebral infarction in 19 (31.1%), mediastinitis in 10 (16.4%), and inflow/outflow cannula exit site infection in 19 patients (31.1%). The actuarial survival rate of the patients operated on in the last 5 years of this study was 66.3% at 6 months and 45.9% at 1 year. Although the survival rate of patients supported by the Toyobo LVAS has recently improved, the morbidity rate is significant. Considering the current severe shortage of heart donors in Japan, it is important to introduce more durable devices with fewer complications and to establish the strategies for using the LVAS as a bridge to recovery.     

快速康复外科在腹部外科手术护理中的应用进展

快速康复外科(ERAS)理念是一种多模式、多学科综合的标准化康复方案。通过外科医师、麻醉医师以及护士多学科沟通合作，制定合理的围手术期方案使患者术后快速康复。通常采用术前优化宣教、合理功能训练，给予营养支持；术中优化手术流程、保温；术后改善围手术期护理等措施，旨在减少患者痛苦以及手术应激反应和器官功能障碍，降低手术并发症，缩短住院时间，加快患者的术后康复。本文就ERAS在腹部外科手术护理中具体措施及应用进行综述。     

Influence of preoperative serum N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide on the postoperative outcome and survival rates of coronary artery bypass patients

BACKGROUND:

The N-terminal fragment of pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is an established biomarker for cardiac failure.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the influence of preoperative serum NT-proBNP on postoperative outcome and mid-term survival in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS:

In 819 patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery preoperative serum NT-proBNP levels were measured. NT-proBNP was correlated with various postoperative outcome parameters and survival rate after a median follow-up time of 18 (0.5–44) months. Risk factors of mortality were identified using χ², Mann–Whitney test, and Cox regression.

RESULTS:

NT-proBNP levels >430 ng/ml and >502 ng/ml predicted hospital and overall mortality (p<0.05), with an incidence of 1.6% and 4%, respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed decreased survival rates in patients with NT-proBNP >502 ng/ml (p = 0.001). Age, preoperative serum creatinine, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, low left ventricular ejection fraction and BNP levels >502 ng/ml were isolated as risk factors for overall mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis, including the known factors influencing NT-proBNP levels, identified NT-proBNP as an independent risk factor for mortality (OR = 3.079 (CI = 1.149-8.247), p = 0.025). Preoperative NT-proBNP levels >502 ng/ml were associated with increased ventilation time (p = 0.005), longer intensive care unit stay (p = 0.001), higher incidence of postoperative hemofiltration (p = 0.001), use of intra-aortic balloon pump (p<0.001), and postoperative atrial fibrillation (p = 0.031)

CONCLUSION:

Preoperative NT-proBNP levels >502 ng/ml predict mid-term mortality after isolated CABG and are associated with significantly higher hospital mortality and perioperative complications.     

Pathologic analysis of right-lobe graft failure in adult-to-adult live donor liver transplantation

Live donor adult liver transplantation (LDALT) utilizing right-lobe grafts is now acceptable as an alternative to cadaveric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, some LDALTs fail and require urgent OLT or result in recipient death. Our aim was to determine the basis of LDALT failure. Liver specimens from 49 LDALT recipients were evaluated and the findings correlated with clinical outcome. Ten patients (20.4%) had either early (< or = 1 month) or late (> 1 month) graft failure. Eight early failures, 7 of which occurred among our first 25 cases, were due to extensive liver parenchymal necrosis as a result of hepatic artery thrombosis (n=3), portal vein thrombosis (n=1), hyperperfusion syndrome (n=1), complete graft thrombosis (n=1) with Factor V Leiden on a regimen of therapeutic heparin (n=1), sepsis and concomitant graft dysfunction with venous outflow tract injury (n=1), and venous outflow tract thrombosis and parenchymal thermal injury with sepsis (n=1). Preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative severe vessel wall injury was evident in 6/8 early failures. Two patients had late graft failure, 1 from recurrent hepatitis C and 1 with sepsis/multisystem organ failure. There were no significant differences in graft size, rejection episodes, or operative or ischemic times between patients with and without graft failure. In conclusion, LDALT failed in 10/49 (20%) of our patients, with 8/10 occurring within 1 month post-LDALT owing to vascular/thrombotic complications experienced during the early phase of our institutional experience. Perioperative vessel wall injury appeared to be a major factor in predicting early graft loss.     

股骨颈骨折全髋关节置换后异体血输注的影响

背景：人工髋关节置换成为目前治疗移位性股骨颈骨折效果较为肯定的方法,因其围手术期失血量较多,致使很多患者需要输血,而输血本身有一定的成本和风险。 目的：探讨股骨颈骨折患者全髋关节置换后异体血输注的相关影响因素,进一步指导并完善在临床工作中血液管理。 方法：对接受全髋关节置换的275例股骨颈骨折患者进行回顾性分析,比较不同性别、年龄、体质量指数、置换前血红蛋白水平、术中出血量、双下肢静脉血栓、置换后抗凝方式、手术时间、假体类型等对置换后异体血输注的影响,以及对异体血输注的预测价值。 结果与结论：比较男性患者与女性患者全髋关节置换后的输血量时发现两者差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05),而在输血率方面两者差异具有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。两组内体质量指数≤ 25 kg/m²的患者和> 25 kg/m²的患者在输血量及输血率上组间差异均无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。年龄、置换前血红蛋白水平和置换过程中出血量是股骨颈骨折患者全髋置换后异体血输注的影响因素,而性别、体质量指数、抗凝方式、双下肢静脉血栓、手术时间、假体类型及术后引流量对术后异体血输注的影响不大。提示,根据影响因素所建立的模型公式对临床上评估和预测置换后异体血输注的风险具有一定的应用价值。     

243例肾综合征出血热多器官衰竭远期愈后调查

目的 通过对243例肾综合征出血热（HFRS）多器官功能衰竭愈后调查,探讨影响及产生后遗症的各种因素,指导HFRS所致多器官衰竭（MSOF）的抢救,制定减少后遗症的各种措施.方法 采用多种形式对243例患者进行回访调查,实行相关的辅助检查,采用大样本计数资料U检验与样本均数t检验,结合原有的住院病历进行分析.结果 HFRS患者治愈后,后遗症发生率为47.73％,多个系统损害的发生率为39.15％,每例最多有3个系统损害后遗症,其发生率与病情、诱因、确诊时间、循环衰竭纠正时间、使用洛赛克及受体阻滞剂、年代、器官衰竭个数、起始衰竭器官及个数、中枢神经系统功能障碍等密切相关.结论 胃肠功能衰竭是MSOF始动因素,2个器官起始衰竭是病情重信号,出现中枢神经系统功能障碍是病情危重和预后差标志.     

Novacor left ventricular assist system long-term performance: comparison of clinical experience with demonstrated in vitro reliability

Since the first implant of the Novacor wearable left ventricular assist system (LVAS) in 1993, median implant duration worldwide has increased from 93 days (max 2.2 years) to 202 days (max 4.1 years) in May 2001. In vitro reliability/durability testing of the Novacor LVAS has previously demonstrated a mean time to failure of 4.2 (3.04-5.59) years. These tests revealed a single failure mode--main bearing wear--with measurable symptoms gradually appearing before degradation of pump function. An ongoing clinical study of 37 recipients implanted for more than 1 year has shown that a simple noninvasive method of pump surveillance, derived from the in vitro experience, is well tolerated in the clinical setting. The overall clinical experience is consistent with in vitro reliability/durability tests that demonstrated 99.9%, 98.5%, and 87.4% freedom from wear at 1, 2, and 3 years (80% confidence). So far, the clinical study has shown 99.4%, 91.5%, and 91.5% freedom from wear at the same 1, 2, and 3 year intervals (95% confidence). Furthermore, the clinical findings have corroborated the in vitro experience that the wear mechanism is generally measurable and gradual, enabling elective clinical LVAS replacement or transplantation. Clinical valve performance was also monitored, using an exercise protocol and collecting comparative data on peak flows across the valves. It was determined that developing valve dysfunction could be diagnosed early and, in the failures that did occur (n = 2), these were related to the patient's disease state. In conclusion, although clinical conditions exposed the LVAS to a wide range of different environmental and hydraulic stresses, the surveillance program described appears practical and reliable, and its findings broadly parallel those of the earlier in vitro study. Additional data needed to complete formal validation continue to be collected.     

Successful bridge to resynchronization therapy with a left ventricular assist system in a patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Implantation of a left ventricular assist system (LVAS) in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) may improve cardiac function and allow explantation of the device. Generally, an ejection fraction of more than 40% is considered necessary for successful weaning from an LVAS, but less than 10% of DCM patients with an LVAS can achieve such a significant recovery of cardiac function. Cardiac resynchronization therapy, or atrial-synchronized biventricular pacing, has been found to treat congestive heart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony effectively. Here we report on a patient with an LVAS, in whom enough functional recovery could be obtained with resynchronization therapy for the device to be explanted successfully. A 32-year-old man was implanted with a Toyobo-NCVC paracorporeal LVAS to treat his intractable heart failure caused by idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. While on the LVAS for 8 months, his cardiac function recovered to some extent. The ejection fraction of his left ventricle (LVEF) improved from 9% to 41%. He chose explantation of the device rather than heart transplantation. Because he occasionally showed a wide QRS pattern on his ECG, epicardial biventricular pacing leads as well as a biventricular pacemaker were implanted on LVAS explantation surgery. An echocardiogram 2 weeks after explantation showed a marked difference in his LVEF by switching his biventricular pacing on and off (40% with biventricular pacing on and 29% with it off). Biventricular pacing may help recovery of cardiac function in selected LVAS patients and contribute to the increase in bridge to recovery cases.     

Prediction of outcome in patients with liver dysfunction after left ventricular assist device implantation

Although postoperative liver dysfunction (LD) following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is associated with high mortality, outcome is difficult to predict in patients with liver dysfunction. We aimed to clarify factors affecting recovery from LD after VAD implantation. A total of 167 patients underwent LVAD implantation, of whom 101 developed early postoperative LD, defined as maximum total bilirubin (max T-bil) greater than 5.0 mg/dl within 2 weeks. We set two different end-points, unremitting LD, and 90-day mortality. The rates of early mortality (90 days) and recovery from LD were 36 % (36/101) and 72 % (73/101), respectively. Univariate analysis showed that preoperative body weight, preoperative mechanical support, preoperative T-bil and creatinine, left ventricular diastolic dimension, right VAD (RVAD) insertion, cardiopulmonary bypass time, postoperative cardiac index, and postoperative T-bil and central venous pressure (CVP) on postoperative day (POD) 3 (non-recovered vs recovered, 12.4 ± 4.5 vs 9.5 ± 3.6 mmHg) were higher in patients with unremitting LD. Preoperative T-bil, RVAD insertion, and T-bil and CVP on POD 3 (non-survivor vs survivor, 12.4 ± 4.4 vs 9.4 ± 3.6 mmHg) were also higher in non-survivors. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CVP on POD 3 was predictive of recovery from postoperative LD (OR 0.730, P < 0.05) and 90-day mortality (OR 0.730, P < 0.05). A key outcome factor in patients who developed early postoperative LD after LVAD implantation was postoperative liver congestion with high CVP. To overcome postoperative LD, appropriate management of postoperative CVP level is important.