Right Ventricular Response to Exercise in LVAD-Supported Patients vs. Heart Failure and Normal Subjects

Purpose Knowledge of right ventricular (RV) responses to exercise in LVAD-supported patients is limited. RV reserve might be impaired in LVAD patients. We sought to determine RV reserve during exercise in LVAD patients vs. HF and control subjects. Methods In 2016-20, 25 LVAD patients underwent upright ergometer CPET with first-pass radionuclide imaging (n=20), with (n=13) or without (n=12) invasive hemodynamic monitoring. LVAD patients were compared to HFrEF (EF Results Median RVEF was 41% (LVAD), 40% (HFrEF), 47% (HFpEF), 51% (normal) (p Conclusion At peak upright exercise, LVAD patients had poorer RV reserve than HF and normal subjects (lower RVSWI, higher RAP/PAWP ratio). Research aimed at RV optimization is needed to improve exercise tolerance in LVAD patients.