Evidence note 39
The clinical and cost effectiveness
of long-term ventricular assist devices (VADs) as a
bridge-to-transplant in adults
Key points
- Long-term ventricular assist devices
can act as a bridge-to-transplant to allow heart transplant
candidates who would otherwise become transplant-ineligible or die
on the waiting list to survive to transplantation.
- There are no published randomised
controlled trials of ventricular assist devices as
bridge-totransplant.
- There is evidence from observational
studies of improvement in functional status and quality of life
during ventricular assist device support as bridge-to-transplant,
and improved survival to transplant with second generation compared
with first generation devices.
- Implantation of contemporary
ventricular assist devices remains associated with serious adverse
events.
- Ventricular assist device support as
bridge-to-transplant is not cost effective at currently accepted
thresholds in the United Kingdom.
The content of this evidence
note was accurate and based upon the most up to date evidence
available at the date of first publication. Readers are asked to
consider that new trials and technologies may have emerged since
first publication and the evidence presented may no longer be
current.
Published Date: 5 March 2012
