Role of assist devices in managing low cardiac output

Knowledge of the clinical applicability of short-term LVADs is in the early stages. Intermediate and long-term electrically-actuated devices appear to have the potential of clinical utility in those patients whose low cardiac output states are the result of the complications of atherosclerosis or the final common paths of a group of poorly-understood cardiomyopathies. Finally, the use of LVADs as bridges, alternatives and/or adjuncts to cardiac allografting is not without precedence and attractive possibilities are conceivable. Considerable overlap may exist between short, intermediate and long-term LVAD clinical utilization. The early experience with short-term devices strongly suggests that viable patient populations will emerge who will benefit from implantable devices with portable power sources of longer utility.