Commentary: Left ventricular size and left ventricular assist device support outcomes: Bigger is better?

Durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy affords patients significant improvements in survival, functional capacity, and quality of life. Despite these benefits, LVAD therapy is associated with a number of important adverse events, most notably stroke and device malfunction secondary to device thrombosis. However, as durable LVAD therapy has matured over the past decade, our understanding of patient characteristics and nonpatient factors that contribute to a higher risk of stroke and pump thrombosis has improved, permitting providers greater accuracy in assessing individual patient operative risk and using risk mitigation strategies to prevent these complications.
Source: The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Tags: Commentary Source Type: research