Mechanical interventions after acute myocardial infarction: impact on patient outcome

As patients' health care needs become more complex, technologic modalities will be designed to reverse pathology and/or support physiologic function until recovery occurs or death ensues. The value of these technologies needs to be evaluated not just on their economic feasibility but on their contribution in achieving a specific patient outcome(s). Justification of the purchase and use of new technologies will be based on that articulation of economics to the achievement of a specific patient outcome(s). Mechanical devices can positively impact patient outcome, but continued research, both quantitative and qualitative, must be conducted to articulate further the relationship between the hypothesized application and specific, measurable patient outcomes.