Impact of Fluid and Passive Leg Raising on Cardiac Output in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation is a common surgical procedure in patients with end-stage heart failure. Optimal fluid management is essential for adequate postoperative treatment. It is important to identify which patients will benefit from fluid administration. Passive leg raising (PLR) is a validated dynamic method to predict fluid responsiveness in patients with heart failure by inducing a transient increase in cardiac preload. Objective: To investigate the role of PLR on the management of patients following LVAD implantation in the postoperative period.