Analysis of Patients with LifeVest after Cardiac Surgery

Background: Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% are\r\nat a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and benefit from implantable\r\ncardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. ICD implantation is not indicated\r\nduring the first 40 days after acute myocardial infarction and Methods: This is a retrospective\r\nstudy conducted in the Heart Center in Cottbus. From 02.2015 through 02.2018 26\r\nWCD patients were retrospectively analyzed and followed-up. Patient demographics,\r\ndefibrillation treatments, and daily wear times were retrospectively obtained\r\nfrom our clinical database and LifeVest network. The patients were questioned\r\nabout actual NYHA grade and implanted ICD at the end of follow-up. Results: Twenty-five\r\npatients (mean age 65, 22 men, 3 women) were treated with a WCD in response to\r\nheart failure (mean EF = 24%) after cardiac surgery (21 CABG, 1 AVR, 1 AVR +\r\nCABG, 1 AVR + MVR, MVR + CABG). Average daily use of a WCD was 22.1 (SD ± 2.7) hours\r\nwhich were worn for 85 days (SD ± 35). At that time 11.96 (SD ± 15) events were\r\ndetected but not treated, 1 defibrillation performed and no asystole seen. At\r\nthe end of follow-up (12 months, SD ± 9) 20 patients were questioned. All of\r\nthe patients were alive and 5 (25%) of them were with implanted ICD. 10 (50%)\r\npatients were in NYHA grade I, 3 (12%) in NYHA grade II, 3 (12%)\r\nbetween grade II-III, 2 (8%) in grade III and 2 (8%) patients in NYHA grade IV. Conclusions: A WCD is an effective therapy for prevention of sudden\r\ncardiac death during the recovery period of heart function after cardiac\r\nsurgery. This is treatment with high patient compliance.