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Review
. 2024 Nov 4;13(21):6622.
doi: 10.3390/jcm13216622.

Outcome Through the Years of Left-Ventricular Assist Devices Therapy for End-Stage Heart Failure: A Review

Ilaria Tropea  1 , Giovanni Domenico Cresce  1 , Valerio Sanesi  1 , Loris Salvador  1 , Daniele Zoni  1
Affiliations
Review

Outcome Through the Years of Left-Ventricular Assist Devices Therapy for End-Stage Heart Failure: A Review

Ilaria Tropea et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Heart transplantation remains the gold standard surgical treatment for advanced heart failure. Over time, medical therapies have achieved remarkable outcomes in terms of survival and quality of life, yet their results may be insufficient, even when maximized. The limited availability of organ donors and the selective criteria for heart transplant eligibility have led to a significant rise in the utilization of long-term mechanical circulatory support, including left ventricular assist devices. Patients receiving LVADs often present with multiple comorbidities, constituting a highly vulnerable population. Individuals living with LVADs may experience various long-term complications, such as bleeding, driveline infections, neurological events, and right ventricular dysfunction. Fortunately, the development of increasingly biocompatible LVAD devices in recent years has resulted in a notable reduction in these complications. This review aims to summarize the principal complications encountered by patients with LVADs throughout their treatment and the associated daily management strategies.

Keywords: bleeding; heart failure; infection; left-ventricular assist devices; right ventricle dysfunction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HeartMate II.
Figure 2
Figure 2
HeartMate 3.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Adverse events in patients with LVADs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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