Left Ventricular Assist Devices Are Underutilized

There is a real need for better therapeutic options for patients with advanced HF to reduce the very impaired quality of life of these patients and the significant personal and economic impact of recurrent hospitalizations. A substantial number of patients could benefit from this therapy who are not currently being referred or considered for LVAD therapy for the variety of reasons detailed above, but primarily because of a lack of familiarity by physicians with current outcomes with LVAD therapy and risk factors for mortality in these patients. Significant expansion of this therapy seems to be both needed and warranted, but it must be supported by randomized trials. © 2011 American Heart Association, Inc.