Comparative analysis of survival rate and quality of life in axial-flow pump left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).

Background: The rising heart failure rates globally show the pressing demand for treatment progress, especially in Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs). Axial-flow pump LVADs are gaining notice for their small size, few moving parts, and potential for miniaturization, providing a vital option for heart transplants during donor shortages.

Objectives: Despite several studies on LVADs, there is a notable lack of research specifically comparing axial-flow pumps with similar technology. This gap hinders the identification of the most optimal technology to guide development efforts and meet patient needs. This study aims to comprehensively compare the most commonly used axial-flow pumps and provide a detailed analysis focusing on survival rates and quality of life parameters.

Methods: As a developer of axial-flow pumps (LVADs), our group conducted a systematic review of the current axial-flow pump LVADs. We analyzed studies comparing these devices, focusing on key metrics such as survival rates and quality of life.

Results: The HeartMate 2 and Jarvik 2000 show superior survival rates (up to 86.9 % at 6 months, 96.3 % at 3 years) and (6-month survival 67 %-91 %) respectively, compared to the other axial flow pumps LVAD. The results underscore the importance of choosing the optimal device and informing the direction of future developments.

Conclusion: In this paper, we aim to inform future studies to enhance their effectiveness and advance the overall performance of these devices, ultimately benefiting patients and developers. This review furnishes evidence-based recommendations for the most appropriate axial-flow pumps based on survival rates and quality of life parameters.