2.2 LVAD implantation
All patients included to the present study underwent surgery on an elective basis, and received either a Heartmate II, Heartmate III (Thoratec Inc., Pleasanton, CA, USA) or a Heartware HVAD (HeartWare Inc., Framingham, MA, USA). Per institutional protocol, dobutamine (5 mcg/kg/min) and levosimendan (no bolus, starting with a dose of 0.05 mcg/kg/min titrated up to 0.02 mcg/kg/min as tolerated) were administered prior to implantation. Device implantation was performed by midline sternotomy. Due to regulatory reasons, all patients underwent implantation with a bridge-to-transplant (BTT) or bridge-to-candidacy (BTC) indications, though none of the patients actually underwent transplantation during the follow-up period.