Stroke Risk Following Infection in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device

BackgroundInfection has been associated with stroke in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD); however, little data exist on the timing, type and mortality impact of infection-related stroke.MethodsProspectively collected data of HeartMate II (N=332) and HeartWare (N=70) LVAD patients from a single center were reviewed. Only strokes (ischemic or hemorrhagic) that occurred within 6weeks following a LVAD infection were considered in analyses. The association between LVAD infections (wound, pump pocket, driveline and/or bloodstream infection [BSI]), specific pathogens and ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The impact of infection-related stroke on cumulative survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.ResultsOf 402 patients, LVAD infection occurred in 158 (39%) including BSI in 107 (27%), driveline infection in 67 (17%), wound infection in 31 (8%) and pump pocket infection in 24 (6%). LVAD infection-related stroke occurred in 20/158 (13%) patients in a median of 4days (0-36days) from documented infection. In multivariable analysis, ischemic stroke was associated with wound infection (aOR 9.0, 95% CI 2.4-34.0, P=0.001) and BSI (aOR 7.7, 95% CI 0.9-66.0, P=0.064), and hemorrhagic stroke was associated with BSI in 100% of cases (P=0.01). There was no association with driveline or pump pocket infection. The cumulative survival rate among patients with infection-related stroke was significantly lower compared to those with LVAD infection but no stroke (log-rank P<0.001). There was a trend toward shorter stroke-free survival among patients with LVAD infection.ConclusionsLVAD infections, particularly BSI, are significantly associated with stroke, and infection-related stroke conferred significantly lower cumulative survival.