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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
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Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: August 16, 2021
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Prehospital Experience With Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Emily L Larson1, Reed Jenkins1, Alexandra Rizaldi1
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
The Journal of Surgical Research
|December 19, 2025
Summary
Patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) often require emergency medical services (EMS) and present with serious conditions. This highlights critical gaps in EMS care for LVAD patients, necessitating improved education and collaboration.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Emergency Medicine
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Increasing use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for heart failure management.
- Growing need for emergency medical services (EMS) to manage LVAD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the characteristics and outcomes of patients with LVADs transported by EMS.
- To identify gaps in EMS care for LVAD patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 75 EMS transports of 25 LVAD patients from 2017 to 2021.
- Analysis of patient LVAD characteristics, EMS interventions, and patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- LVAD patients frequently presented with high-acuity conditions (e.g., chest pain), with 8% being immediate life-threat.
- One-year survival post-EMS transport was 74.8%, with 39% returning to the ED within 30 days.
- Identified gaps in LVAD assessment (24%), LVAD team consultation (8%), and hospital notification (56%) by EMS.
Conclusions:
- LVAD patients present frequently to EMS with high acuity, high mortality, and frequent ED returns.
- Significant opportunities exist to improve EMS care through enhanced clinician education and inter-agency partnerships.
- Urgent need for improved protocols and training for EMS personnel managing LVAD patients.
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