The Clinical Applications of the Left Ventricular Assist Device

摘要

This report covers the fourth year of Clinical Left Ventricular Assist Device program. 19 Clinical implantations have been carried out to date, 4 during the current project year. A fifth patient developed acute aortic dissection during pump implantation and the procedure was discontinued. One of the four patients receiving an LVAD this year improved sufficiently to undergo pump removal 6 days following the implant. An acute thrombosis of a vein graft resulted in death (left ventricular failure) 10 days post pump removal. Three of 19 patients included in the program remain alive and well up to 29 months post-operatively. One of these is gainfully employed and supporting a family with 5 children. In patient No. 7, removal of the inflow conduit was carried out successfully 22 months postimplantation because of persistent sinus tract from the lower end of the midline sternotomy incision. This patient is a diabetic.