Opioid usage after left ventricular assist device implantation: A single center retrospective analysis

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy for end-stage advanced heart failure patients is gaining greater acceptance nationally and implant volume continues to increase.  Early landmark trials showed significant superiority with LVAD compared to medical management prompting this increase in LVAD implantation. Outcomes with LVAD implantation have continued to improve from 52% one-year survival in the 2001 REMATCH trial to 82.3% one-year survival in the 2020 STS INTE RMACS report.1,2 However, LVAD implantation is a time-intensive surgical procedure requiring sternotomy or thoracotomy approach, placement of drains, and line insertions, which all results in acute post-operative pain that requires treatment.
Source: Heart and Lung - Category: Intensive Care Authors: Source Type: research