BACKGROUND: The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a bridging mechanism for @entity1 with severe @entity712 to remain viable until heart transplantation. The rate of @entity999 has been reported as high as 47% in some studies but the rate of other @entity16 in @entity1 with LVADs is not known. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all @entity1 who had LVADs implanted at our hospital from September 1993 until September 1997. Complications from the time of implantation until heart transplantation or @entity204 and functional outcome were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-three @entity1 had LVADs placed in the four-year period. Of 23 @entity1 , 9 had @entity16 after placement of the LVAD. These included four @entity64 , three @entity410 , and two cases of @entity933 . The 3 @entity1 with @entity410 all died from @entity177 . All of the @entity1 with @entity64 received a transplant. One @entity1 with @entity933 died from @entity177 and another received a transplant. The most devastating medical complication was @entity177 , which occurred in 7 @entity1 and was associated with 100% mortality. All surviving @entity1 with @entity16 went on to transplant and good functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: @entity16 are common in @entity1 with LVADs, occurring in 9 out of 23 @entity1 in our series. @entity410 are a poor prognostic indicator and were associated with 100% mortality. @entity64 did not have a negative impact on outcome. @entity1 with @entity933 had a mixed outcome, which reflects the multifactorial nature of @entity933 . Further study needs to be done to limit the @entity16 associated with LVADs and further improve outcomes.

XXXX of the Novacor left ventricular assist device.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity410 :: ('MESH:D012640', 'Disease') :: ['Seizures', 'seizures'] @entity712 :: ('MESH:D006333', 'Disease') :: ['heart failure'] @entity64 :: ('MESH:D020521', 'Disease') :: ['strokes', 'Strokes'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['Neurologic complications', 'neurologic complications'] @entity999 :: ('MESH:D020766', 'Disease') :: ['cerebral embolism'] @entity177 :: ('MESH:D051437', 'Disease') :: ['multiorgan failure', 'renal failure'] @entity933 :: ('MESH:D003693', 'Disease') :: ['delirium'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['death']
@entity16 :: (MESH:D009422,Disease) :: ['Neurologic complications']
