Therapy

Consider left ventricular assist devices ^a

Why?

• Left ventricular assist devices reduce death in end-stage heart failure compared with optimal medical management, but adverse effects are common (particularly bleeding, neurological dysfunction, supraventricular arrhythmias, peripheral embolic events and sepsis). ^a

Left ventricular assist devices reduce mortality

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	RRR (95% CI)	NNH (95% CI)
end-stage heart failure a	LV assist devices	optimal medical management	death at 2 years	89%	32% (16% to 45%)	4 (2 to 7)