Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
08:49
Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart
Published on: May 11, 2018
[Artificial heart and heart transplantation]
1Klinik für Herz- und thorakale Gefäßchirurgie, UKGM - Universitätsklinik Marburg, Baldingerstr. 1, 35033, Marburg, Deutschland. moosdorf@med.uni-marburg.de
Herz
|October 30, 2012
Summary
Advances in heart failure treatment prolong life but increase patient numbers. Ventricular assist devices offer improved survival and quality of life, becoming a viable alternative to heart transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology and Medical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Transplantation Surgery
Context:
- Heart failure is a growing concern due to increased life expectancy and demographic shifts.
- Cardiac transplantation, pioneered in the 1960s, became viable with immunosuppression in 1978.
- Despite advances, donor organ shortage and an aging population necessitate alternative treatments.
Purpose:
- To review the evolution of cardiac transplantation and explore emerging alternatives for end-stage heart failure.
- To assess the progress and limitations of artificial hearts, particularly ventricular assist devices (VADs).
- To compare the efficacy of VADs with current heart transplantation outcomes.
Summary:
- Cardiac transplantation survival rates have improved significantly, with nearly 50% of adult patients surviving 15 years.
- Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have evolved from temporary bridges to transplantation to destination therapy, offering improved quality of life and survival.
- While VADs show superiority over medical therapy in survival and rehospitalization, they are not yet a complete alternative to heart transplantation.
Impact:
- VADs represent a significant advancement, providing a viable option for patients ineligible for transplantation.
- Further development in VAD technology, including miniaturization and cost reduction, promises wider accessibility.
- The ongoing progress in artificial heart technology addresses the critical need for effective heart failure management strategies.
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