Type of Caregiver and Outcome After Mechanical Circulatory Support Placement

H. Henry, F. Arabia, M. Kittleson, L. Czer, E. Passano, J. Yabuno, S. Siddiqui, E. Antifantis, D. Chang, J. Kobashigawa.

Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Los Angeles, CA.

Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: C182

Keywords: Artificial heart, Quality of life, Ventricular assist devices

Topic:

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session C: "Loss of Breath": VADs and Other Pre-Heart Transplant Matters

Date: Monday, May 4, 2015

Session Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Presentation Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Exhibit Hall E

Purpose: Caregiver support following mechanical circulatory support (MCS) implantation is key to good outcomes. The caregiver support can come from a spouse, parent, other relative, friends, or adult children. It is not known as to whether any type of caregiver has benefit over the other. Therefore we assessed our MCS patients and their 6- month outcomes based on the type of caregiver.

Methods: Patients were divided into those with caregivers who were spouses (n=39), parents (n=13), other relative (n=8), friend (n=4), and adult children (n=10). 6-Month readmission rates were assessed among all groups. Readmissions were further stratified into readmissions for stroke, gastrointestinal bleed, infection, and renal dysfunction and assessed among all groups.

Results: 6-Month readmissions following MCS placement was not significantly different among the 5 caregiver groups. Further division of readmissions by cause also yielded no significant difference between the caregiver groups. (See table)


Endpoints	Spouse (n=39)	Parent (n=13)	Other family (n=8)	Friend (n=4)	Adult Child (n=10)	Log-Rank P-Value
6-Month Freedom from Readmission	54.4%	38.5%	75.0%	25.0%	68.6%	0.227
6-Month Freedom from Stroke Readmission	100.0	90.9%	100.0	100.0	85.7%	0.278
6-Month Freedom from GI Bleed Readmission	84.7%	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	0.837
6-Month Freedom from Infection Readmission	84.7%	76.9%	87.5%	75.0%	80.0%	0.112
6-Month Freedom from Renal Dysfunction Readmission	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	>0.999

Conclusion: The specific type of caregiver support does not appear to differ in post-MCS implant readmissions and complications. Dedication and attentiveness to the patient appears paramount for good patient outcome.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Henry H, Arabia F, Kittleson M, Czer L, Passano E, Yabuno J, Siddiqui S, Antifantis E, Chang D, Kobashigawa J. Type of Caregiver and Outcome After Mechanical Circulatory Support Placement [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/type-of-caregiver-and-outcome-after-mechanical-circulatory-support-placement/. Accessed May 16, 2021.

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