title: Effects of changes in UNOS policy regarding left ventricular assist devices.
abstract: Over the last 6 years, 161 patients underwent implantation of HeartMate single-lead vented electric (SLVE) devices as a bridge to transplantation. SLVE patients were retrospectively analyzed before and after United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) policy changes, and designated SLVE-1 and SLVE-2, respectively. Mean support time decreased significantly from 79.7 +/- 72.0 days to 55.3 +/- 60.5 days (p = 0.022). Although not statistically significant, rate of successful bridging to transplant increased from 70.3% to 74.7%, and post-transplant 1- and 3-year survival increased from 90.0% and 86.0%, respectively, to 92.9% and 87.3%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Flannery
authors.forename: Mehmet C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Oz
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naka
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States