Aspirin Resistance and Higher Risk of Pump Thrombosis in Patients with Ventricular Assist Device – a 7-Year Follow Up Study

Introduction In patients with terminal heart failure, implantation of a ventricular assist device (VAD) is often the last therapeutic option as a bridge therapy to heart transplantation or as a destination therapy. Since a VAD has a large artificial surface and high shear forces are generated by the pump, concomitant medication with anticoagulants is necessary. Vitamin K antagonists and, in most cases, a platelet aggregation inhibitor are used. Despite this medication, however, many patients experience thromboembolic events. Whether laboratory testing of the efficacy of antiplatelet drugs is helpful has long been discussed, as has the correct method for this detection. In our study, we evaluated 81 patients with a VAD for the efficacy of aspirin (ASA) therapy in a routine ambulatory setting. After a follow-up, we compared the incidence of thrombosis between patients with ASA resistance and ASA efficacy.