The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs Database Annual Report: Evolving Indications, Outcomes, and Scientific Partnerships

In the February issue of The Annals, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons published the first annual report after the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs) joined the STS National Database in January 2018.  This report summarizes the outcomes in patients (≥19 years of age) undergoing durable MCS implant between June 23, 2006, and December 31, 2017.
Among 25,145 patients, 18,539 (74%) received continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF LVADs), 667 (2.6%) had a right ventricular assist device (RVAD) with CF LVAD, 339 (1.3%) received a total artificial heart, and 20 (0.07%) received an isolated RVAD. Of the CF LVADs, mean age was 57 ± 1 years, 26% were listed for transplantation, and 51% were in cardiogenic shock (profile 1 to 2) preoperatively. CF LVADs included 14,527 axial flow (78%) and 4,012 centrifugal flow (22%) devices. Recently (2012-2016), more patients are in Intermacs profile 3, with better renal and hepatic function, and received implants for destination therapy (48%), with a centrifugal flow device (51%).
Mean CF LVAD support duration was 20 months. Survival for isolated CF LVADs was 83% at 1 year and 46% at 5 years. One-year survivals for centrifugal versus axial flow devices were 85% and 84%, respectively. Patients with concomitant RVAD support had 1-year and 5-year survivals of 58% and 28%, respectively. Freedom from all-cause readmission was 70% at 1 month and 20% at 1 year. At 1 year, stroke occurred in 20% with centrifugal flow and 13% with axial flow support (p < 0.001), gastrointestinal bleeding affected 20% with centrifugal flow devices and 25% with axial flow devices (p < 0.001), and pump-related infection occurred in 28% of patients with centrifugal flow devices versus 25% with axial flow devices (p = 0.01). Neurologic dysfunction (19% of deaths) and multisystem organ dysfunction (15%) were the most common causes of death.