Twelfth Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support Report: Readmissions After Left Ventricular Assist Device

The twelfth annual report from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs) highlights outcomes for 26688 continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients over the past decade (2011-2020). In 2020, we observed the largest drop in yearly LVAD implant volumes since the registry's inception, which reflects the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac surgical volumes in the United States. The 2018 heart transplant allocation policy change in the United States continues to affect LVAD implantation volumes and device strategy, with 78.1% of patients now receiving LVAD implants as destination therapy. Despite an older and sicker patient cohort, survival in the recent era (2016-2020) at 1 and 2 years continues to improve at 82.8% and 74.1%. Patient adverse event profile has also improved in the recent era, with significant reductions in stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, infection, and device malfunction/pump thrombosis. Finally, we review the burden of readmissions after LVAD implant and highlight an opportunity to improve patient outcomes by reducing this frequent and vexing problem. (Ann Thorac Surg 2022;113:722-37) (c) 2022 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Automated summary

The twelfth annual report from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs) provides an overview of outcomes for LVAD patients over the past decade, highlighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LVAD implant volumes and improvements in survival rates and patient adverse events. The report also emphasizes the importance of reducing readmissions after LVAD implantation in improving patient outcomes.