Management of Hypertension in Patients With Ventricular Assist Devices
Published: April 18, 2022
- Hypertension (HTN) is a predictor of poor outcomes in patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), contributing to device malfunction and deviceassociated complications including pump thrombosis, increased risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, right ventricular failure, aortic insufficiency, and ventricular arrhythmias.
- In patients with a continuous-flow VAD (CF-VAD), medications effective for treating HTN include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, hydralazine, and nitrates.
- Appropriate treatment of HTN in patients with a CF-VAD is critically important issue given its effect on limiting VAD efficiency and as a risk factor for the developing stroke and other complications.
Recommended Reading
- 2019 Device Therapy and Arrhythmia Management in Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients
- 2017 Hypertension Guidelines
- 2017 Recommendations for the Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support: Ambulatory and Community Patient Care
- 2012 Recommendations for the Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support: Device Strategies and Patient Selection