Cost-utility analysis of direct ventricular assist device vs double bridges to heart transplantation in patients with refractory heart failure

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. e13124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsiao-Huang Chang ◽  
Po-Lin Chen ◽  
I-Ming Chen ◽  
Tzu-Ting Kuo ◽  
Zen-Chung Weng ◽  
...  
Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 468
Author(s):  
Kyle D. Hope ◽  
Priya N. Bhat ◽  
William J. Dreyer ◽  
Barbara A. Elias ◽  
Jaime L. Jump ◽  
...  

Heart failure is a life-changing diagnosis for a child and their family. Pediatric patients with heart failure experience significant morbidity and frequent hospitalizations, and many require advanced therapies such as mechanical circulatory support and/or heart transplantation. Pediatric palliative care is an integral resource for the care of patients with heart failure along its continuum. This includes support during the grief of a new diagnosis in a child critically ill with decompensated heart failure, discussion of goals of care and the complexities of mechanical circulatory support, the pensive wait for heart transplantation, and symptom management and psychosocial support throughout the journey. In this article, we discuss the scope of pediatric palliative care in the realm of pediatric heart failure, ventricular assist device (VAD) support, and heart transplantation. We review the limited, albeit growing, literature in this field, with an added focus on difficult conversation and decision support surrounding re-transplantation, HF in young adults with congenital heart disease, the possibility of destination therapy VAD, and the grimmest decision of VAD de-activation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluigi Balestroni ◽  
Giovanna Omarini ◽  
Pierangela Omarini ◽  
Massimo Pistono ◽  
Ugo Corrà ◽  
...  

Background: Advanced heart failure is a challenging disease; the implantable Left Ventricular Assist Device (L-VAD) is becoming a good chance for relieving symptoms and prolong survival in most CHF patients. The emotional impact of L-VAD implantation is thought to be high but, at present, published data are scant about that. Aim of this study was to evaluate the modifications of perceived quality of life (QoL) in a group of patients recently treated with L-VAD implantation, admitted to a residential cardiac rehabilitation program, and to compare the results to those obtained in patients awaiting heart transplantation and recently transplanted. Material and Method: We enrolled 66 patients (pts) with a recent implant of L-VAD, 51 with refractory heart failure awaiting heart transplantation (HT) and 55 recently treated with HT. On day two after admission, all patients underwent a complete psychometric assessment consisting in the compilation of: – Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) – Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) – Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI - II) Results: L-VAD recipients had significantly higher scores at MLHFQ. Both the total score and the 2 subscales scores (respectively physical and emotional disturbances) were statistically significant when compared with posttransplant patients. Post- transplant pts had the lowest scores regarding anxiety symptoms, while the bearers of device had the highest ones. The same results were obtained for depression scores (BDI - II), both in total score and in the subscales (somatic symptoms and affective symptoms). Conclusions: With an opening scoring, this study showed the development of more relevant psychological troubles in patients treated with L-VAD when compared to those awaiting for heart transplantation and those transplanted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T Cain ◽  
Michael S Firstenberg ◽  
Joseph C Cleveland

For nearly 60 years, there have been two surgical treatment options for individuals with severe advanced heart failure: heart transplantation or implantation of a left ventricular assist device. As these fields have advanced in parallel, improvements in surgical technique, device development, and patient selection have improved outcomes for both therapies. Development of a comprehensive approach to the management of the most severe forms of advanced heart failure requires a deep understanding of both heart transplantation and durable ventricular assistance, including recent advancements in both fields. This article will review the substantial progress in the fields of heart transplantation and mechanical left ventricular assistance, including recent changes to organ allocation prioritization and left ventricular assist device evaluation, both of which have dramatically influenced practice in these fields.


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