TY - JOUR
T1 - Current state of ventricular assist devices
AU - Caccamo, Marco
AU - Eckman, Peter M
AU - John, Ranjit
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support is an accepted treatment of patients with end-stage heart failure. The increased applicability and excellent results with LVADs have revolutionized the treatment options available for such patients. Success with LVADs as bridge-to-transplant therapy has led to their successful use as an alternate to a transplant (ie, as destination therapy [DT]). The use of these devices as DT represents a relatively newer but growing indication. Until recently, most patients who have undergone LVAD implantation have been supported by pulsatile devices. Newer continuous-flow (CF) pumps have resulted in superior outcomes, including significantly reduced complication rates with improved durability over first-generation pulsatile design pumps. However, as with all new technology, the newer LVADs have introduced management challenges that were either unimportant or absent with pulsatile LVADs. This article reviews the current state of left ventricular devices, focusing on the CF pumps that currently dominate the field, including clinical outcomes, the physiologic and pathologic effects that are associated with CF pumps, and their unique management issues and complications.
AB - Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support is an accepted treatment of patients with end-stage heart failure. The increased applicability and excellent results with LVADs have revolutionized the treatment options available for such patients. Success with LVADs as bridge-to-transplant therapy has led to their successful use as an alternate to a transplant (ie, as destination therapy [DT]). The use of these devices as DT represents a relatively newer but growing indication. Until recently, most patients who have undergone LVAD implantation have been supported by pulsatile devices. Newer continuous-flow (CF) pumps have resulted in superior outcomes, including significantly reduced complication rates with improved durability over first-generation pulsatile design pumps. However, as with all new technology, the newer LVADs have introduced management challenges that were either unimportant or absent with pulsatile LVADs. This article reviews the current state of left ventricular devices, focusing on the CF pumps that currently dominate the field, including clinical outcomes, the physiologic and pathologic effects that are associated with CF pumps, and their unique management issues and complications.
KW - Bridge to transplant
KW - Complications
KW - Continuous-flow device
KW - Destination therapy
KW - Device
KW - Heart failure
KW - Heart transplantation
KW - LVAD
KW - Left ventricular assist device
KW - Mechanical support
KW - Pulsatile-flow device
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U2 - 10.1007/s11897-011-0050-z
DO - 10.1007/s11897-011-0050-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 21336538
AN - SCOPUS:79957474297
SN - 1546-9530
VL - 8
SP - 91
EP - 98
JO - Current Heart Failure Reports
JF - Current Heart Failure Reports
IS - 2
ER -