Determinants of Functional Capacity and Quality of Life After Implantation of a Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device.

ABSTRACT: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are increasingly used as destination therapy in patients with end-stage heart failure and, with recent improvements in pump design, adverse event rates are decreasing. Implanted patients experience improved survival, quality of life (QoL) and functional capacity (FC). However, improvement in FC and QoL after implantation is not unequivocal, and this has implications for patient selection and preimplantation discussions with patients and relatives. This article identifies preimplantation predictors of lack of improvement in FC and QoL after continuous-flow LVAD implantation and discusses potential mechanisms, allowing for the identification of potential factors that can be modified. In particular, the pathophysiology behind insufficient

SUBMITTER: Mirza KK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7592460 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature