Real World Experience with the HeartMate 3 (HM3) Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD): Analysis of the First 125 Consecutive Patients at a Single Institution

Purpose Excellent outcomes following HM3 LVAD implantation have been reported in the setting of a large multicenter randomized controlled trial. Real world experience reports with this device are still limited. We sought to review our experience with this fully magnetically levitated LVAD. Methods The first 125 consecutive patients who received a HM3 LVAD at our institution from October 1, 2015 to August 30, 2019 were analyzed. Pump exchange procedures were excluded. We investigated clinical outcomes including survival and the development of postoperative complications. Results All devices were implanted via median sternotomy. Mean patient age was 57.5 ± 11 years, 72 % were males and 74% African-Americans. Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy was the most common diagnosis (73%). 67 % of the patients were INTERMACS profiles 1 or 2. 19 % of devices were implanted as bridge to transplant and 59% as destination therapy. Mean body-mass index at the time of implant was 30.5 ± 8 Kg/m2. Mean creatinine level was 1.29 ± 0.4 mg/dl and mean bilirubin was 1.45 ± 1.6 mg/dl. The mean length of stay during index admission for LVAD was 30 ± 17 days and the mean follow-up time was 411 ± 34 days. The rate of complications measured as EPPY was 0.42 for GI bleeding, 0.03 for ischemic stroke, 0.01 for hemorrhagic stroke, 0 for clinically suspected pump thrombosis or confirmed pump thrombosis, 0.22 for LVAD related infection, 0.16 for other systemic infection and 0.59 for acute heart failure. Survival was estimated at 96%, 91%, 88%, 81% and 74% at 30-day, 90-day, 1-year, 2-year, and overall 3-year follow-up, respectively (Figure). Conclusion In this single center, real world experience, HeartMate 3 implantation was associated with excellent survival comparable to those demonstrated in a recent clinical trial. The incidence of complications was also low, including no episodes of suspected or confirmed pump thrombosis.