The impact of position changes of the inflow cannula in LVAD patients

Background: Left ventricular assist device inflow cannula malposition can contribute to numerous negative outcomes after device implantation. We analyzed the impact of position changes in the inflow cannula angle in HeartMate II (HM II) and HeartMate 3 (HM 3) patients. Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2023, patients who underwent HM II and HM 3 implantation were reviewed. Among them, patients with suitable chest X-rays for angle calculation at both 1-2 months and 6-12 months post-implantation were identified. Results: The study cohort consisted of 66 (82.5%) HM 3 and 14 (17.5%) HM II patients. The median age of the cohort was 57.6 years (Interquartile range [IQR], 47.4-63.2), and the majority were males (n=73, 91.2%). Operative data and demographics were similar between the groups except for the body surface area (p