LVAD BY THE NUMBERS

If you're considering getting an LVAD, it's important to talk with your medical team about your specific situation.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE LVADS?

Over 23,000

people in the United States received an LVAD between 2006 and 2018.

More than 50%

of those 23,000 people got their LVADs between 2014 and 2018.

More than 2,500

patients will receive an LVAD over the next year.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT LVAD AND HEART TRANSPLANT?

50% of patients are designated “Bridge to Transplant” when they get an LVAD.

That means they are eligible to get a heart transplant.

33% of Bridge to Transplant

patients receive a heart transplant within the first year after their surgery.

50% of patients are designated "Destination Therapy" when they get an LVAD.

That means they are not eligible for heart transplant and they will most likely have the LVAD for the rest of their lives. This should be discussed up front with your LVAD team.

15% of Destination Therapy

patients are able to move to the Bridge to Transplant status.

In other words, about 5 out of 10 people

getting an LVAD are designated Bridge to Transplant.

HOW LONG DO PEOPLE LIVE AFTER THEY GET AN LVAD?

While it is uncertain how long each individual patient will live after getting an LVAD, the graph below shows the best estimate.

Sometimes the LVAD has to be replaced. 65% of patients who get a second LVAD are still alive one year after that surgery. 60% of patients who get a third LVAD are still alive one year after surgery.

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MONTHS AFTER LVAD SURGERY: PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS LIVING

By contrast, without an LVAD, only 25-50% of people with end-stage heart failure will be alive one year later.
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Source: INTERMACS

WHAT ARE THE EARLY RISKS AFTER SURGERY?

During surgery and in the first 30 days after surgery:

4 out of 10 patients will have bleeding

2 out of 10 patients will get a infection

2 out of 10 patients will have respiratory failure

1 out of 10 patients will experience renal failure

3 out of 10 patients will have right heart failure

0 to 1 out of 10 patients will have a stroke

HOW OFTEN DO LVAD COMPLICATIONS HAPPEN?

In the first year after LVAD surgery:

5 to 6 out of 10 patients (55%) have hospital readmissions

2 out of 10 patients will get a device-related infection

2 out of 10 patients will have a serious bleed

1 out of 10 patients will have a stroke

0 to 1 out of 10 patients will need surgery to replace their LVAD

PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS WITH MAJOR COMPLICATIONS OVER TIME AFTER LVAD SURGERY:

36 months after LVAD surgery, 86% of patients have experienced at least one major complication. Chances of longer-term complications are more uncertain.
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Source: INTERMACS

Percentage of patients who have had major complications

Months after LVAD surgery

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