Myocardial innervation and perfusion imaging during LVAD implantation: a nuclear imaging approach

Abstract

In recent years, heart failure has been recognized as a major and increasing public health issue. In the context of the shortage of heart donors and increasing waiting time on the transplantation list, nonpulsatile left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have shown their efficiency in reducing mortality and improving quality of life in patients with end-stage heart failure. Among LVAD recipients, a minority of patients will recover a normal cardiac function, allowing pump weaning. However, the evaluation of intrinsic cardiac function is particularly challenging and still a matter of debate in LVAD recipients.

Keywords: (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy; Heart failure; Left ventricular assist device; Nuclear imaging.