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Destination Therapy with Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Non-transplant Centres: The Time is Right.

ABSTRACT: For almost half a century, cardiac transplant has been the only long-term treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure. Implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have emerged as a new treatment option for advanced heart failure as destination therapy for patients either too old or not suitable for transplant. A meta-analysis presenting head-to-head comparisons of cardiac transplant versus LVAD as destination therapy (LVAD-DT) found no difference in 1-year mortality rates between LVAD-DT and cardiac transplant (OR 1.49; 95% CI [0.48-4.66]; I2=82.8%). Moreover, a recent subanalysis from the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support found similar outcomes after LVAD-DT implantation in both transplant and non-transplant centres. The time is right for LVAD-DT in non-transplant centres, provided multidisciplinary heart failure teams and expertise are in place.

SUBMITTER: Bayes-Genis A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7215475 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Destination Therapy with Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Non-transplant Centres: The Time is Right.

Bayes-Genis Antoni A Muñoz-Guijosa Christian C Santiago-Vacas Evelyn E Montero Santiago S García-García Cosme C Codina Pau P Núñez Julio J Lupón Josep J

European cardiology 20200201

For almost half a century, cardiac transplant has been the only long-term treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure. Implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have emerged as a new treatment option for advanced heart failure as destination therapy for patients either too old or not suitable for transplant. A meta-analysis presenting head-to-head comparisons of cardiac transplant versus LVAD as destination therapy (LVAD-DT) found no difference in 1-year mortality rates between ...[more]

PMID: 32419850

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Project description:The left ventricular assist device was originally designed to be surgically implanted as a bridge to transplantation for patients with chronic end-stage heart failure. On the basis of the REMATCH trial, the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved permanent implantation of the left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy in Medicare beneficiaries who are not candidates for heart transplantation. The use of the left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy raises certain ethical challenges. Left ventricular assist devices can prolong the survival of average recipients compared with optimal medical management of chronic end-stage heart failure. However, the overall quality of life can be adversely affected in some recipients because of serious infections, neurologic complications, and device malfunction. Left ventricular assist devices alter end-of-life trajectories. The caregivers of recipients may experience significant burden (e.g., poor physical health, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder) from destination therapy with left ventricular assist devices. There are also social and financial ramifications for recipients and their families. We advocate early utilization of a palliative care approach and outline prerequisite conditions so that consenting for the use of a left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy is a well informed process. These conditions include: (1) direct participation of a multidisciplinary care team, including palliative care specialists, (2) a concise plan of care for anticipated device-related complications, (3) careful surveillance and counseling for caregiver burden, (4) advance-care planning for anticipated end-of-life trajectories and timing of device deactivation, and (5) a plan to address the long-term financial burden on patients, families, and caregivers.Short-term mechanical circulatory devices (e.g. percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass, percutaneous ventricular assist devices, etc.) can be initiated in emergency situations as a bridge to permanent implantation of ventricular assist devices in chronic end-stage heart failure. In the absence of first-person (patient) consent, presumed consent or surrogate consent should be used cautiously for the initiation of short-term mechanical circulatory devices in emergency situations as a bridge to permanent implantation of left ventricular assist devices. Future clinical studies of destination therapy with left ventricular assist devices should include measures of recipients' quality of end-of-life care and caregivers' burden.

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Destination Therapy with Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Non-transplant Centres: The Time is Right.

Publications

Destination Therapy with Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Non-transplant Centres: The Time is Right.

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