Trends in Utilization, Mortality, Major Complications, and Cost After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in the United States (2009 to 2014)

The utilization of contemporary continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVADs) has increased, accounting for >90% of implants from 2009 to 2014. The present study aimed to identify the annual national estimates in utilization, in-hospital mortality, and major complications with CF-LVAD using data from the National Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer inpatient data set in the United States, and the US Census Bureau, for the years 2009 to 2014. Participants included all adult patients who received CF-LVADs from 2009 to 2014. End points included in-hospital mortality, in-hospital complications, length of stay, cost, and disposition at the time of discharge. A total of 3,572 (weighted = 17,552) patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implants were analyzed. LVAD implants increased significantly, with average annual change (%) of +12.6% (p <0.001). Rates of in-hospital mortality decreased by average annual rate of −5.3% (p = 0.02). The rates of major complications including ischemic stroke, major bleeding, and cardiac tamponade did not change significantly over the study period. However, we found a significant decrease in postoperative infections (p = 0.001) and respiratory complications (p = 0.03). Although the length of stay and disposition patterns did not change over time, we found a significant decrease in cost of hospitalization (p = 0.001). In conclusion, from 2009 to 2014, utilization of LVADs increased with concomitant decrease in in-hospital mortality rates, without significant changes in major complications.