DETROIT: Left ventricular assist devices may contribute to a decline in health or cognitive function in some patients, according to two studies.
In the first study, 1,173 patients from different hospitals underwent cognitive function testing before their implant, and at each follow-up meeting with their doctor. About 29% of patients experienced a significant decline in memory and problem solving within a year of receiving their implant, the researchers found.
The second study involved 164 device recipients at one hospital, whose health and quality of life were monitored between January 2012 and October 2013. The researchers found that 58 patients had experienced a poor outcome within a year of receiving the implant.