title: Complications of Continuous-Flow Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices.
abstract: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), more importantly the continuous-flow subclass, have revolutionized the medical field by improving New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class status, quality of life, and survival rates in patients with advanced systolic heart failure. From the first pulsatile device to modern day continuous-flow devices, LVADs have continued to improve, but they are still associated with several complications. These complications include infection, bleeding, thrombosis, hemolysis, aortic valvular dysfunction, right heart failure, and ventricular arrhythmias. In this article, we aim to review these complications to understand the most appropriate approach for their prevention and to discuss the available therapeutic modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, SUNY Downstate School of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Harsh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: St. Francis Hospital - The Heart Center , Center for Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Roslyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Raef
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madanieh
authors.affiliation: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Constantine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kosmas
authors.affiliation: St. Francis Hospital - The Heart Center , Center for Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Roslyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Satya K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Vatti
authors.affiliation: St. Francis Hospital - The Heart Center , Center for Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Roslyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vittorio
keywords: aortic insufficiency; bleeding; continuous-flow; infection; left ventricular assist device; pulsatile-flow; right ventricular failure; thrombosis; ventricular arrhythmias