Ventricular Arrhythmias After Left Ventricular Assist Device

The role of implantable cardioverter defibrillators in patients bridged to transplantation with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device: A propensity score matched analysis

“…Ventricular arrhythmias are common in patients with advanced HF and as many as half of patients with an LVAD will experience a VA during device support. (18) While not all VA require treatment, nor do all VA result in death, there is a significant mortality benefit from ICDs in appropriately selected patients with heart failure (29% risk reduction). (19) Current societal guidelines do not address LVADs, but do provide a Class IIa recommendation for ICD implantation in non-hospitalized patients awaiting transplantation.…”

Effect of Ventricular Arrhythmia Ablation in Patients With Heart Mate II Left Ventricular Assist Devices: An Evaluation of Ablation Therapy

“…The use of mechanical support devices among patients with advanced heart failure continues to rise. The number of heart transplants in the United States has plateaued at approximately 2,200 annually and is limited by organ availability . Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology has improved over time, and can now provide patients with a durable option for mechanical circulatory support until the time of heart transplantation or as destination therapy …”

“…One of the downsides to LVAD therapy is the higher predisposition to ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Exacerbation of underlying VA has been described in patients undergoing LVAD implantation . A study of 94 patients by Garan et al .…”

Meta-Analysis of the Relation of Ventricular Arrhythmias to All-Cause Mortality After Implantation of a Left Ventricular Assist Device

“…VAs have been observed to occur with higher frequency after LVAD implantation, although reported incidence varies widely among reported observational studies and registries. 6,10,11 Several clinical variables, including the presence of pre-existing VAs 12 , etiology of cardiomyopathy 11 , device type 13 , indication for support 3 and duration of follow-up 4,11,14 have been reported to modulate the risk of post-LVAD VAs. However, the relative contribution of these potential risk factors remains unclear.…”