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Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in Juvenile Landrace Swine: A LVAD Implantation Model of Pediatric Heart Failure
Published on: January 16, 2026
Ten-year follow-up of the first left ventricular assist device implantation program in Chile: a case series
Oneglio Pedemonte Villablanca1,2,3,4,5, Paulina Berthelon Vega6,7,8, Paulina Espinoza Reed3,9
1Cardiovascular Diseases Department, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Chile.
Insights
Long-term use of HeartWare left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) shows feasibility in advanced heart failure patients. Despite complications like infections and bleeding, LVADs offer durable destination therapy in low-donation settings.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Mechanical Circulatory Support
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) impacts over 64 million globally, with rising prevalence.
- Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are crucial for advanced HF when medical therapy and transplantation are insufficient.
- The HeartWare (HVAD) device is a key option for mechanical circulatory support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 10-year outcomes of the first Chilean LVAD program utilizing the HVAD device.
- To assess the feasibility and durability of long-term LVAD support in advanced heart failure.
- To analyze complications and survival rates associated with HVAD implantation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, single-center study design.
- Inclusion of nine patients with advanced HF who received HVAD implants between 2013 and 2015.
- Analysis of 10-year patient outcomes, including survival, complications, and device performance.
Main Results:
- One-year survival was 77.8%, with 10-year survival for destination therapy at 62.2%.
- All patients experienced infections (55.5% driveline), 77.7% had bleeding events, and 33.3% had neurological complications.
- Four patients remained on LVAD support after 10 years, with no device failures.
Conclusions:
- Long-term LVAD support with HVAD is feasible and clinically relevant, even in low-donation settings.
- LVADs can serve as durable destination therapy for selected advanced heart failure patients.
- Multidisciplinary care and structured follow-up are essential for managing LVAD patients.
Abstract:
Heart failure (HF) affects over 64 million people worldwide, with prevalence projected to reach 3% by 2030. In advanced stages, when medical therapy fails and transplantation is limited by organ shortages, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) represent a viable alternative. This retrospective, single-center study reports 10-year outcomes from the first Chilean LVAD program using the HeartWare (HVAD) device. Between 2013 and 2015, nine patients with advanced HF received HVAD implants. The mean age was 42.2 ± 15.8 years, with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 22% ± 4.1%. One-year survival was 77.8%, and 10-year survival for those using LVAD as destination therapy was 62.2%. All patients experienced at least one infection, with driveline infections being most common (55.5%). Bleeding events affected 77.7%, including gastrointestinal bleeding and severe epistaxis (both 22.2%). Neurological complications occurred in 33.3% of patients. Despite these events, four patients remained on LVAD support after 10 years, with no mechanical device failures requiring replacement. This case series highlights the feasibility, durability, and clinical relevance of long-term LVAD support in low-donation settings. Findings support LVADs as a destination therapy in selected patients and emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary care and structured follow-up.
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