A Survey of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine Faculty and House Officers’ Understanding and Experience with Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Abstract

Introduction The number of patients with stage D heart failure (HF) requiring a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is on the rise. The aim herein is to examine family medicine (FM), internal medicine (IM) faculty and house officers (HO) understanding and experience about LVAD. Methods A survey was distributed by email to FM, IM faculty and HO at the University of Michigan. The survey contained questions about LVAD survival and basic management of arresting LVAD patients. Results 111 completed the survey (23.8%). Respondents self-identified as HO (59.5%) and the rest were FM and IM faculty. Only 30.9% reported receiving education on LVADs during their training and 66.6% reported being somewhat familiar with LVAD therapy. However, only half felt that LVAD therapy is a good option for improving quality of life and only 32% felt that LVADs improved survival. Only 6% of respondents estimated correct 1-year survival post pump implant. 77% correctly identified the anticoagulation of choice and 47% reported the appropriate way to measure blood pressure. No respondents received instruction on how to run a code on LVAD patients during ACLS certification, only 6.3% were aware of the recent AHA scientific statement regarding unresponsive LVAD patient management, and only 9% felt comfortable running a code blue on an LVAD patient. 49% and 35%, respectively, report that chest compressions and defibrillation can be performed if indicated. HO had better knowledge than IM and FM faculty regarding arresting LVAD patient management (p Conclusions Substantial knowledge gaps about LVAD and basic LVAD management were identified among IM, FM faculty and HO at a large teaching hospital. Similar knowledge gaps may exist among the larger internal and family medicine communities as a whole.