Flow Patterns in the Carotid Arteries of Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2017

Publication Title

Annals of vascular surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate and define the expected flow pattern changes of carotid artery duplex ultrasound after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement.

METHODS: Retrospective review of Henry Ford Hospital database of patients who had undergone LVAD placement between March 2008 and July 2012 was performed. All patients who had carotid artery duplex scanning before and after LVAD placement within 2 years of each other and showed

RESULTS: A total of 13 patients with LVAD had at least 2 carotid duplex studies before and after LVAD placement within 2 years of each other. Of those, 92% (n = 12) were men, and 61% (n = 8) were Caucasian. Mean age was 61 years old. The HeartWare ventricular assist device was implanted in 4 patients and the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device was implanted in 9 patients. Post-LVAD Doppler imaging demonstrated parvus tardus waveform. Analysis of flow velocities revealed that peak systolic velocity was diminished after LVAD placement in both the internal and common carotid arteries (P = 0.006 and P < 0.0001, respectively). End-diastolic velocity, however, increased post-LVAD (P < 0.0001). Interestingly, mean flow velocities in both the common and internal carotid arteries remained stable after LVAD placement.

CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals changes in waveform morphology and peak systolic and diastolic velocities in the common and internal carotid arteries on carotid duplex after LVAD placement. Additionally, it shows that despite changes in post-LVAD pulse pressure in the carotid arteries, the mean flow velocity remained unchanged.

Medical Subject Headings

Aged; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood Pressure; Carotid Artery, Common; Carotid Artery, Internal; Carotid Stenosis; Databases, Factual; Disease Progression; Female; Heart Failure; Heart-Assist Devices; Humans; Male; Michigan; Middle Aged; Prosthesis Design; Regional Blood Flow; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; Ventricular Function, Left

PubMed ID

27531092

Volume

39

First Page

182

Last Page

188

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