Transitioning Vad Care: Outcomes of Virtual Vad Follow Up Visits.

The advent of COVID-19 forced an immediate need to provide virtual care to patients supported on ventricular assist devices (VADs). The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of ongoing VAD care provided in virtual VAD visits (VVV) to traditional in-person clinic visits. A single center, prospective study was conducted from October 2020 to August 2022. A total of 70 patients were randomized to virtual (34) or in-person (36) clinic visits. They were followed for one year after consent. Patients in the virtual arm were given a manual blood pressure cuff, doppler, and electronic tablet, accompanied by education for proper use. Virtual and in-person visits were conducted in the same format. A total of 2 withdrew, 4 expired, and 9 patients were transplanted. Survival, readmission rate, VAD complications, frequency, and length of visits were compared between groups. Total survival was 94%, with improved survival with VVV (97% vs 92%). The VVV group had less readmissions (60 vs 25 hospitalizations p=0.006) with a shorter average length of stay (7.72 vs 15 days, p=0.5). Rates of bleeding (12% vs 15%), heart failure (20% vs 23%), and infection (36% vs 40%) were relatively similar in both groups. Virtual VAD visits resulted in less frequent urgent visits (29 vs 12 visits) as well as shorter clinic visits (28 vs 38 minutes). We conclude that virtual VAD visits result in a statistically significant decrease in readmissions and comparable VAD complication rates to patients seen in-person for clinic visits. Clinicians can consider virtual VAD visits to be a reliable and efficient alternative for ongoing follow up. To our knowledge, this is the largest study of ongoing virtual care of VAD patients. Further study of this care model is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]