Insights into the daily life of ventricular assist device coordinators: Outcome of an international questionnaire

BackgroundAs the incidence of heart failure in developed countries is on the rise, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) often remains the only treatment option for patients with end‐stage heart failure and is well established worldwide. Even though VAD coordinators play a key role in VAD programs, their responsibilities and daily duties are not clearly defined and characterized. Recently published data from the first 5‐year multicenter clinical trial assessing experience with the HeartMate 3 left ventricular system (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL) show an overall survival of 61% at 5 years. When it comes to possible improvements to these systems, it is necessary for developers not only to know the status quo but also to determine and consider the visions and wishes of those individuals who take care of patients, provide education and deal with possible complications. This would be helpful a meaningful effort towards implementing a standard of care.MethodsTo fill this knowledge gap, we conducted an online survey using the SurveyMonkey tool, addressing representatives of programs implanting VADs worldwide. Representatives answered a standardized block of 14 questions and were asked to provide responses within 3 months.ResultsA total of 91 VAD coordinators from centers of various regions of the world completed the survey. The majority came from European countries. The numbers of patients followed up by the centers ranged from