Left Ventricular Assist Device in Older Adults

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device: Current knowledge, complications, and future directions

“…Usually, intervention with ablation must be performed in centers with experience. Intravenous amiodarone and sodium channel-blocking agents such as procainamide remain the preferred drug regimen in the short-term setting [ 65 ]. The usual source of ventricular arrhythmias is the surrounding area of the inflow cannula.…”

Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic heart failure in elderly patients (2021)

“…Long-term assistance is only used as a transition in heart transplantation, and this should be used with caution in patients with advanced age. 82…”

“…Use of a left ventricular assist device has become a common treatment for advanced HF. Long‐term assistance is only used as a transition in heart transplantation, and this should be used with caution in patients with advanced age 82 …”

Solid Organ Transplantation in Older Adults. Infectious and Other Age-Related Considerations

“…Particular to the heart transplants and due to the scarcity of organs overall, in older adults, end-stage-heart-disease has led to more destination left ventricular assist devices (VADs) which can provide a good alternative to transplant, with manageable symptoms yet without the risks of immunosuppression. VADs have also been associated with a risk of infection[ 45 ] and an increase in suppressive T-regulatory cells[ 46 ]. Overall, the distribution of adults on the waitlist has shifted to more patients being transplanted from VAD support[ 36 ], despite evidence that older patients have worse outcomes, and higher risk of stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding with VAD therapy[ 47 ].…”