Search

Abstract Aims Implantation of left ventricular‐assist devices (LVAD) to treat end‐stage heart failure is of increasing relevance due to donor shortage. Infections of the driveline are common adverse events. LVAD infections can lead to high urgency listings for transplantation. However, transplantation in patients with infection leads to worse post‐transplantation outcomes. This study aims to evaluate specific risk factors for driveline infections at the time of implantation. Methods and results Four hundred forty‐one patients receiving either Heartmate II or Heartware system from August 2009 to October 2013 were assessed. An expert committee sorted patients into four different groups concerning the likeliness of infection. Twenty‐eight (6%) of discussed infection cases were judged as secured, 33 (7%) as likely, 18 (4%) as possible, and 20 (4%) as unlikely. The remaining 342 (78%) subjects showed either no signs of infection at all times (329 [75%]) or developed signs of infection in a second observation period within 1 year after ending of the first observation period (13 [3%]). For a better discriminatory power, cases of secured and likely infections were tested against the group with no infection at all times in a Cox proportional hazard model. Among all variables tested by univariate analysis (significance level P