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Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart
08:49

Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart

Published on: May 11, 2018

[Heart transplantation and assist devices]

Heidi Görler1, Axel Haverich

  • 1Abteilung für Thorax-, Herz- und Gefässchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule, Hannover. goerler@thg.mh-hannover.de

Herz
|December 8, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Heart failure patients often need advanced treatments like heart transplantation or mechanical assist devices due to high mortality. Research focuses on improving long-term outcomes and reducing complications for these critical interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology and Transplant Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering

Context:

  • Chronic heart failure management remains challenging, with high mortality despite therapeutic advances.
  • Heart transplantation is the optimal treatment for end-stage heart disease, but organ scarcity necessitates alternative solutions.
  • Mechanical assist devices are increasingly used, transitioning from experimental to routine procedures.

Purpose:

  • To investigate long-term complications and optimize immunosuppressive strategies following cardiac transplantation.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of mechanical assist devices in managing end-stage heart failure.
  • To improve patient quality of life in advanced heart disease treatment.

Summary:

  • Current research in cardiac transplantation aims to prevent cardiac allograft vasculopathy and minimize adverse effects of immunosuppression.
  • Mechanical assist device implantation faces challenges, particularly recurrent infections, limiting long-term utility.
  • Ongoing studies are crucial for a comprehensive understanding and definitive judgment of assist device performance.

Impact:

  • Advances in immunosuppression and device technology can enhance survival rates and quality of life for heart failure patients.
  • Addressing long-term complications is vital for establishing durable and effective treatments for advanced heart disease.
  • Improved outcomes for heart transplantation and mechanical assist devices will expand treatment options for a growing patient population.
Abstract

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