Prediction of survival in patients with cardiogenic shock and multiorgan failure treated with biventricular assist device.

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is valuable in saving the lives of patients with severe cardiogenic shock. However, their survival is limited if multiorgan failure (MOF) proves to be irreversible. Although ventricular assist devices (VADs) have been shown to reverse end-organ failure in some patients, the pathophysiological mechanisms of end-organ failure and its regression are not fully understood, and clinical markers and thresholds for the "point of no return" are lacking. We investigated predictors of 30-day survival in patients supported with a biventricular assist device (BVAD). We studied 157 patients implanted with a Berlin Heart EXCOR BVAD between 1987 and 2006. Children younger than 10 years and cases with postcardiotomy syndrome and transplant failure were excluded from the analysis as well as patients with technical or bleeding problems requiring rethoracotomy. In total, 69 clinical, hemodynamic, echocardiographic, and laboratory parameters were evaluated. Most of the patients suffered from ischemic cardiomyopathy or acute myocardial infarction. In addition, the preoperative multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were calculated. The patients were divided into two groups regarding procedural success: group I-survival >30 days or heart transplantation or weaning from device (n = 105) and group II-death on system <30 days after surgery (n = 52). The 30-day procedural success rate was 67%. The patients in group I had higher systolic blood pressure (96.7 vs. 90.1 mm Hg, p = 0.027), lower serum creatinine (1.96 vs. 2.4 mg/dl, p = 0.001), and higher arterial pH (7.43 vs. 7.37, p = 0.02). The multivariate analysis recognized age, body temperature, systolic blood pressure, MODS score, and higher arterial pH as significant predictors for 30-day mortality. Standard markers for severity of cardiogenic shock and MOF do not predict survival on BVAD. As expected, older patients are at higher risk for death on BVAD. Acidosis and high MODS score predict unfavorable outcome. However, the prediction of clinical outcome in patients in severe cardiogenic shock supported by BVAD is possible in extreme situations only.