Comparison of Transplant Waitlist Outcomes for Pediatric Candidates Supported By Ventricular Assist Devices vs. Medical Therapy Alone

Pediatric ventricular assist devices (VAD) have gained popularity in the management of refractory heart failure in children. It is unknown whether outcomes with VAD are superior to medical therapy. Our primary aim was to compare the composite end-point of all cause pre-transplant mortality and loss of transplant eligibility in children who were treated with a durable VAD versus a medically managed cohort selected to represent a similar risk...