Thousands of patients in the United States suffer from heart failure. Many of these individuals will eventually die despite excellent medications as the heart continues to deteriorate. Transplantation offers only a few of these patients relief from their heart failure.
Mechanical circulatory assist devices are small pumps that provide extra support to the failing heart. Also known as left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), these pumps are implanted inside the patient. The LVAD generates additional blood flow out to the brain and body, relieving the symptoms of heart failure.
The LVAD can be used to sustain the patient until a donor heart becomes available for transplantation. This is known as "bridge to transplant" and allows the patient to maintain a more normal life while waiting for transplant. The LVAD can also be used to give additional meaningful life to patients who are not candidates for transplantation. This is known as "destination therapy."
The Utah Artificial Heart Program is one of the leading systems in the world for the treatment of advanced heart failure. To learn more, visit the UAHP website.