Preoperative Pectoralis Muscle Quantity and Attenuation by Computed Tomography Are Novel and Powerful Predictors of Mortality After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Abstract

Pectoralis muscle size and attenuation were powerful predictors of outcomes after LVAD implantation in this data set. This one time, repeatable, internal assessment of patient substrate added valuable prognostic information that was not available on standard preoperative testing.