Improved survival in patients with ventricular assist device therapy: the University of Wisconsin experience.
OBJECTIVE
Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have been implanted since 1990 in our institution, becoming an increasingly common treatment for end-stage heart failure. Beginning in 1997, VAD patients were discharged home when feasible. In August 2003, a dedicated multidisciplinary VAD team (cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, VAD coordinators, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, nutrition experts, psychologists, pharmacists, social workers, and administrators) was created to optimize the management of VAD patients. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of these changes in care at our center over the last 17 years.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 107 consecutive VAD recipients between June 1990 and August 2006. VADs were implanted as bridge to recovery, bridge to transplant and destination therapy. The cohort was divided by care plans into early (n=37, June 1990-1996), mid (n=32, 1997-July 2003), and late groups (n=38, August 2003-August 2006). Demographic profile, survival and complications were assessed.


RESULTS
Patient demographics tended to show an increased severity of illness over time. Post-VAD survival rate significantly improved in the late group (post-VAD 1- and 3-year survival rates; early: 54.1% and 40.5%; mid: 51.6% and 41.9%; late: 86.8% and 82.5%, p<0.001, respectively). The incidence of complications including re-operation, major bleeding and major infection, significantly decreased in the late group (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Outcomes have improved dramatically in recent VAD patients, despite an increasingly high-risk patient population. These data suggest that advances in device technology and medical therapies, as well as a multidisciplinary approach, have improved survival on VAD therapy.
Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA. osaki@surgery.wisc.edu
Satoru
S
Osaki
Niloo M
NM
Edwards
Mauricio
M
Velez
Maryl R
MR
Johnson
Margaret A
MA
Murray
Jennifer A
JA
Hoffmann
Takushi
T
Kohmoto
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome