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In multiple recent studies, researchers demonstrated an elevated risk for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in patients with implanted continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs; NEJM JW Gastroenterol Jul 24 2014).
To further clarify this risk, investigators retrospectively reviewed records of 233 patients who underwent LVAD implantation at one hospital during 2005 to 2013. All patients received the same type of LVAD.
Sixty instances of GIB occurred in 51 patients (22%; 0.17 events/patient-year of LVAD support). Risk factors for GIB were older age and lower pre-operative body-mass index. Although women experienced 30% of the bleeding events, they constituted only 15% of the population (P=0.07). Overall survival was not lower in pati…