6. Conclusions
Pressure-dimension index is a novel index that reflects both structural
alterations and functional changes in the RV. Patients with a high
preoperative PDI are at risk for postoperative short-term mortality and
lower survival free of RVF after an LVAD implantation, and this
increased mortality is presumed to be due to RVF. However, a high PDI
was not suggestive of a poor long-term survival in LVAD patients. While
PDI was found as an independent predictor of short-term survival or
short-term survival free of RVF, it is uncertain whether it offers
incremental usefulness over existing parameters for clinical
decision-making and therefore further studies are needed to determine
the role of PDI for identifying patients at-risk for post-LVAD RVF.