The HVAD Left Ventricular Assist Device: Risk Factors for Neurological Events and Risk Mitigation Strategies.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for ischemic in hemorrhage cerebrovascular events in patients supported by the HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD).

Background: Patients supported with left ventricular assist devices are at risk for both ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular events.

Methods: Patients undergoing implantation with a HVAD as part of the bridge-to-transplant trial and subsequent continued access protocol were included.

Early elevations in pump power with the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device do not predict late adverse events.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early pump power elevation events in patients with the HeartMate II (HMII) and its impact on subsequent development of stroke and pump thrombosis.

Methods: We analyzed >45,000 measurements of pump power and pump speed measured during the initial hospitalization period and >12,000 follow-up measurements obtained from 138 consecutive patients implanted with a HMII between January 2009 and December 2012. An early power elevation (PEL) event was defined as power ≥10 W within the first 14 post-operative days.