BACKGROUND The true relevance of allosensitization in patients benefiting from left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as bridge to transplant (BTT) is still debated. Available registry data referred to numerous devices precluding LVAD-specific analysis. Therefore, we studied all patients with Novacor LVAD prior to transplantation. METHODS From 1985 to 2006, 37 Novacor LVADs were implanted as B...

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) mechanically unloads the left ventricle (LV). Theoretical analysis indicates that partial LVAD support (p-LVAD), where LV remains ejecting, reduces LV preload while increases afterload resulting from the elevation of total cardiac output and mean aortic pressure, and consequently does not markedly decrease myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). In...

AIMS Support with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) improves cardiac performance in patients with end-stage heart failure. In some cases this strategy, combined with pharmacological treatment, has led to a clinical improvement which remained after LVAD explant. This study defines changes in Ca handling at the cellular level in failing left ventricular tissue taken at LVAD implant (LVAD cor...

RATIONALE The objective of this autopsy study was to determine whether gastrointestinal angiodysplasia develops during continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. OBJECTIVE LVAD support causes pathologic degradation of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and bleeding from gastrointestinal angiodysplasia at an alarming rate. It has been speculated that LVAD support itself may cause ...

BACKGROUND Ventricular tachycardia (VT) can persist following placement of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The optimal management strategy for VT during the peri-LVAD period is unknown. CASE PRESENTATIONS Two case reports are presented that describe epicardial and endocardial VT ablation performed during LVAD placement. Subsequently, both patients developed LVAD thrombosis, a known a...

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) saves lives in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) failure. However, predicting how much LVAD boosts total cardiac output (CO) remains difficult. This study aimed to develop a framework to quantitatively predict the impact of LVAD on hemodynamics. We adopted the circulatory equilibrium framework and incorporated LVAD into the integrated CO curve to d...

OBJECTIVES During support with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), partial reverse remodelling takes place in which fibrosis plays an important role. In this study, we analysed the histological changes and expression of fibrotic markers in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) during continuous-flow LVAD (cf-LVAD) support. METHODS In 25 patients, myocardial tissue at the time of LVAD...

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has become an alternative treatment for end-stage heart failure patients. Series type of LVAD, as a novel LVAD, has attracted more and more attention. The hemodynamic effects of series type LVAD on aortic blood pattern are considered as its important characteristics; however, the precise mechanism of it is still unclear. METHODS To clarify the ...

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy is the viable option for patients with advanced heart failure as a bridge to transplantation, bridge to recovery, or destination therapy. Although application of LVAD support has become a standard option, serious complications or adverse events related with LVAD remain a concern. LVAD-related infection including driveline infection (DLI) and blood...

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are frequently used as a bridge to cardiac transplantation and may be useful as long-term therapy. The purpose of this study was to compare the exercise performance of LVAD patients with that of ambulatory heart failure patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Exercise testing with hemodynamic and respiratory gas measurements was performed in 65 congest...