Rachael Farmilette
Department of Physician Assistant Studies The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555
Title: Body Mass Index and incidence to Driveline infections in LVAD Patients
Biography
Biography: Rachael Farmilette
Abstract
• Heart failure affects approximately 6.5 million adults in the U.S. and in 2017 was the cause of 1 in 8 U.S. deaths. [1] • The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has become a life saving option for patients unwilling and/or unable to undergo heart transplantation. • LVADs may serve as bridge to transplant (BTT) therapy and even as a destination therapy (DT). • Driveline site infection (DLI) is a serious complication of LVAD use. Even with sterile dressing changes and perioperative antibiotic use, DLI rates remain high. It is clear that variables aside from site contamination impact the incidence of infection--including obesity. • It has been shown that excess adipose tissue dysregulates the body’s immune response via decreased immune surveillance, diminished chemotaxis, and irregular macrophage differentiation. [6]