Preimplant Hyponatremia Does Not Predict Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Hyponatremia is a well-established marker of adverse outcomes in chronic heart failure (HF) but not well studied in patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD). This is a retrospective study, single cen-ter study of HM3 [Abbott, USA] LVAD implants. We divided our population based on their sodium prior to LVAD implantation -hyponatremia if <135 mEq/L and normal sodium if 135-145 mEq/L. We compared postoperative and long-term outcomes. A total of 195 patients were included, preimplant hyponatremia was present in 40% with a sodium of 132.1 & PLUSMN; 2.1 vs 137.8 & PLUSMN; 1.9 mEq/L in the normal sodium group. No differences were observed in the postoperative or long-term out-comes. Preimplant hyponatremia was not associated with mortality or HF admissions, likely due to adequate left ventricular unloading and resolution of the mecha-nisms that lead to hyponatremia. These results suggest that optimization of mild hyponatremia may not be crit-ical and should not delay LVAD placement.