The American journal of cardiology
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The utilization of contemporary continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVADs) has increased, accounting for >90% of implants from 2009 to 2014. The present study aimed to identify the annual national estimates in utilization, in-hospital mortality, and major complications with CF-LVAD using data from the National Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer inpatient data set in the United States, and the US Census Bureau, for the years 2009 to 2014. Participants included all adult patients who received CF-LVADs from 2009 to 2014. ⋯ However, we found a significant decrease in postoperative infections (p = 0.001) and respiratory complications (p = 0.03). Although the length of stay and disposition patterns did not change over time, we found a significant decrease in cost of hospitalization (p = 0.001). In conclusion, from 2009 to 2014, utilization of LVADs increased with concomitant decrease in in-hospital mortality rates, without significant changes in major complications.