Prognostic Value of Vasoactive-Inotropic Score Following Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) in predicting outcomes after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and explore possible mechanisms of post-operative hemodynamic instability. METHODS Retrospective review was performed in 418 consecutive patients with LVAD implantation. VIS was calculated as dopamine + dobutamine + 10 × milrinone + 100 × epinephrine + 100 × norepinephrine (all μg/kg/min) + 10000 × vasopressin (U/kg/min) after initial stabilization in the operating room and upon arrival at the intensive care unit. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes were a composite of in-hospital mortality, delayed right ventricular assist device (RVAD) implantation, and continuous renal replacement therapy. The pre-operative biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, endotoxemia and gut-derived metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) were measured in a subset of 61 patients. RESULTS Median VIS was 20.0 (interquartile range 13.3–27.9). VIS was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.09, p CONCLUSIONS A high post-operative VIS is associated with adverse in-hospital outcomes and is a better predictor of in-hospital mortality compared with existing LVAD risk models. Whether early hemodynamic stabilization using RVAD may benefit patients with a high VIS remains to be investigated.