title: Usefulness of Palliative Care to Complement the Management of Patients on Left Ventricular Assist Devices.
abstract: Within the last decade, advancements in left ventricular assist device therapy have allowed patients with end-stage heart failure (HF) to live longer and with better quality of life. Like other life-saving interventions, however, there remains the risk of complications including infections, bleeding episodes, and stroke. The candidate for left ventricular assist device therapy faces complex challenges going forward, both physical and psychological, many of which may benefit from the application of palliative care principles by trained specialists. Despite these advantages, palliative care remains underused in many advanced HF programs. Here, we describe the benefits of palliative care, barriers to use within HF, and specific applications to the integrated care of patients on mechanical circulatory support.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Electronic address: nancy.luo@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Palliative Medicine Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Gwen C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Chetan B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Palliative Medicine Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Anthony N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Galanos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Carmelo A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Falls Church, Virginia.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mentz
mesh_terms: D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left