How Do We Establish Usefulness of Left Ventricular Assist Device in Japan ?

The number of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) has been steeply increasing since implantable LVAD was covered by insurance in 2011. LVAD is generally used for the bridge to transplantation in Japan. The indication is likely to expand to the long-term use for the patients with end-stage heart failure and no indication of heart transplantation (destination therapy: DT) because of good survival rate. However, there are still many issues to be solved to improve the mortality and morbidity of the patients with LVAD for long term use. We have to reduce the major complications resulting in re-hospitalization and worsening quality of life. Cost effectiveness and end-of-life care are also very important problems particularly for DT.
In this symposium, we would like to discuss how to make it possible to maximize the performance of LVAD in Japan from cardiologists ' and surgeons ' points of view.