The Burden of Ventricular Arrhythmias Following Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Abstract

Few innovations in medicine have so convincingly and expeditiously improved patient outcomes more than the development of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Where optimal pharmacotherapy once routinely failed those with end-stage disease, the LVAD now offers considerable hope for the growing advanced heart failure population. Despite improvements in mortality, however, mechanical circulatory support is not without its limitations. Those supported with an LVAD are at increased risk of several complications, including infection, bleeding, stroke and arrhythmic events. While once considered benign, ventricular arrhythmias in the LVAD patient are being increasingly recognised for their deleterious influence on patient morbidity and quality of life. In addition, the often multifactorial aetiology to these episodes makes treatment difficult and optimal therapeutic management controversial. Novel strategies are clearly needed to better predict, prevent, and eradicate these arrhythmias in order to allow future generations of heart failure patients to reap the full benefits of LVAD implantation.