Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute renal failure are associated with high mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Thus, appropriate patient selection is crucial to reduce mortality and morbidity linked with this procedure.
Methods: Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and preoperative/postoperative data of 93 patients who received LVAD implants between April 2012 and December 2021 were recorded. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) assessed right ventricular function via echocardiography, with TAPSE values ≥17 considered normal. Patients were grouped based on TAPSE values and statistically compared using the chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test.
Results: Sixty-one patients (55 male) were included in the study. Significant differences were observed between TAPSE groups regarding ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, AKI development, and post-AKI need for renal replacement therapy (RRT). Preoperative serum creatinine level (sCr) elevation (p = 0.01), advancing age (p = 0.02), increased body surface area (BSA) (p = 0.024), and low TAPSE value (p = 0.02) were identified as risk factors for postoperative AKI development.
Conclusions: Mortality and morbidity arising from right ventricular dysfunction post-LVAD implantation pose significant challenges. Preoperative TAPSE assessment can aid in predicting postoperative renal dysfunction.