RT Journal
A1 Slaughter MS
T1 OUtcomes of medicare beneficiaries with ventricular assist devices
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2009
FD April 22
VO 301
IS 16
SP 1656
OP 1658
DO 10.1001/jama.2009.526
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.526
AB 
To the Editor: Heart failure is a significant health care issue in the United States, with more than 5 million people currently affected and more than 50 000 deaths per year with heart failure as a primary cause.1 As the population ages, this will become an even greater problem. Left ventricular assist devices for destination therapy are slowly emerging as the treatment of choice for appropriately selected patients. With new technology, advances in patient selection, and management and implantation at an experienced center, survival rates are now approaching 75% at 2 years.2