Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2015; 63 - OP77
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1544329

Sexual Concerns Following Left Ventricular Assist Devices Implantation: A Prospective Study

B. Maxhera 1, A. Albert 1, P. Merle 1, P. Ortmann 1, M. Günter 2, A. Lichtenberg 1, D. Saeed 1
  • 1Düsseldorf University Hospital, Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • 2Düsseldorf University Hospital, Clinic for Psychosomatic and Psychiatric Diseases, Düsseldorf, Germany

Objectives: The growing field of implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) lacks studies that evaluate the sexual and psychosocial concerns of LVAD patients . The aim of this prospective study was to determine the sexual and psychosocial behaviors of these patients.

Methods: A sexual and psychocosial survey was conducted in patients who underwent the implantation of LVAD at single institution. Inclusion criteria were patients who were discharged and spent at least 2 months home. The survey consisted of 17 questions with main focus on the sexual life and activities. The patients were asked to complete the survey by circling the responses.

Results: The survey was sent to 35 patients. Twelf patients had either no partners or did not response to the survey. Data of the remaining 23 patients with a mean age of 53 ± 13 yo were analyzed. The majority of the patients (91%) were male. The median support duration at the time of survey was 227 days (89–1256 days). Nine patients had no sexual activity after LVAD implantation. The remaining 14 patients had their first sexual activity 16 ± 12 weeks (6–42 weeks) after LVAD implantation. A remarkable decrease in the degree of satisfaction with sexual life following LVAD implantation (5.4 ± 2.2 versus 3.8 ± 2.4) was observed (p = 0.03) (a scale of 1–7, with 7 being very satisfied and 1 not satisfied). Meanwhile, a trend toward a considerable reduction in the sexual desire and frequency as well as partner satisfaction following LVAD implantation was observed. Decreasing sexual activities after LVAD implantation was mainly to avoid disappoitment with the partner and/or sudden cardiac arrest.

Conclusions: There is a notable reduction in the sexual desire and activities following LVAD implantation. The majority of the patients avoid discussing this issue with their physicians. Psychological and psychosocial support of LVAD patients is mandatory to improve their life quality.

Fig. 1