Current status of the left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy

Abstract

The heart failure epidemic has led to an increase in the number of patients with advanced heart failure, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current therapies for advanced heart failure are limited to heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support, with palliative care reserved for those ineligible to receive advanced therapies. Clinical trials of ventricular assist devices for patients with advanced heart failure demonstrate an improvement in survival and quality of life akin to heart transplantation. The Achilles heal of this therapy is the adverse event burden. Patient selection and multidisciplinary care are two of the strategies being used to improve long-term outcomes. Adjunct therapies in combination with left ventricular assist device therapy and advances in device technology in the near future may lessen the number of adverse events. This review summarizes the clinical outcomes, current challenges and future directions of left ventricular assist device therapy.