Effects of left ventricular assist device implantation on respiratory drive

Ventricular arrhythmias after left ventricular assist device implantation.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used as a bridge to cardiac transplantation and as destination therapy in patients with advanced heart failure. The period after LVAD support is associated with ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) despite ventricular unloading and such VAs can have a detrimental effect on survival. Despite the increasing use of LVAD, little is known regardi...

Effects of left ventricular assist device therapy on ventricular arrhythmias.

OBJECTIVES In a retrospective study, we sought to evaluate the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy on ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. BACKGROUND Despite the increasing use of LVAD as a bridge to cardiac transplantation, our knowledge regarding its effect on ventricular arrhythmias is currently limited to small series. Little...

Surgical infection prophylaxis for left ventricular assist device implantation.

BACKGROUND Antimicrobial prophylaxis is commonly administered to patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgeries to prevent infectious complications. However, optimal surgical infection prophylaxis (SIP) for LVAD surgeries is not well defined. METHODS We conducted an electronic survey to characterize LVAD SIP used at different centers performing LVAD implantation. RESULT...

Asia's First Minimal-Access Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Late Complications Following Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Left ventricular assist devices have become standard therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure. They represent potential long-term solutions for a growing public health problem. However, initial enthusiasm for this technology has been tempered by challenges posed by long-term support. This review examines these challenges and out current understanding of their etiologies.