Biomaterial Database

Can our society afford mechanical hearts? 1991

V L Poirier

Thermo Cardiosystems Inc., Woburn, MA 01888-2697.

Congestive heart failure afflicts 4 million people in the United States, with 400,000 deaths annually. Very little can be done for individuals with this condition, which is increasing in prevalence. The only hope is the promise of intervention with permanent circulatory support systems. Can we as a society afford the $3.1 billion that would be required to support every patient needing such a system? This cost represents an increase of 1/2 of 1% of the $662 billion per year expended for medical care. Fortunately, circulatory support systems do not necessarily represent an expense, but rather an investment that has a reasonable payback period. An investment in an individual of $100,000 for the device and implantation cost, coupled with an ongoing maintenance cost of $4,000 per year, can return to society an income greater in value than the investment. The payback period is strongly dependent on the earning power of the individual, as well as the amount of medical attention or complications experienced. An individual with an annual salary of $40,000 per year becomes a positive financial force in our society and increases the gross national product (GNP) within 5 years. The same individual with extensive medical complications and intermittent loss of salary can extend the payback period by an additional 2 years. Circulatory support systems have the potential of increasing our GNP, leading to a higher standard of living for the populace.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009927	Tissue and Organ Procurement	The administrative procedures involved with acquiring TISSUES or organs for TRANSPLANTATION through various programs, systems, or organizations. These procedures include obtaining consent from TISSUE DONORS and arranging for transportation of donated tissues and organs, after TISSUE HARVESTING, to HOSPITALS for processing and transplantation.	Organ Procurement,Organ Procurement Systems,Organ Shortage,Tissue Procurement,Tissue Shortage,Donor Cards,Organ Donation,Required Organ Donation Request,Required Request,Tissue Donation,Donor Card,Organ Donations,Organ Procurement System,Organ Procurements,Required Requests,Shortage, Tissue,Tissue Donations,Tissue Procurements,Tissue Shortages
D005102	Health Expenditures	The amounts spent by individuals, groups, nations, or private or public organizations for total health care and/or its various components. These amounts may or may not be equivalent to the actual costs (HEALTH CARE COSTS) and may or may not be shared among the patient, insurers, and/or employers.	Expenditure,Expenditures, Health,Health Expenditure,Out Of Pocket Expenditure,Out-of-Pocket Cost,Out-of-Pocket Expense,Out-of-Pocket Payment,Expenditures,Expenditures, Direct,Expenditures, Indirect,Expenditures, Out-of-Pocket,Out-of Pocket Expenditures,Out-of-Pocket Costs,Out-of-Pocket Expenses,Out-of-Pocket Payments,Out-of-Pocket Spending,Cost, Out-of-Pocket,Costs, Out-of-Pocket,Direct Expenditure,Direct Expenditures,Expenditure, Direct,Expenditure, Health,Expenditure, Indirect,Expenditure, Out-of Pocket,Expenditure, Out-of-Pocket,Expenditures, Out of Pocket,Expenditures, Out-of Pocket,Expense, Out-of-Pocket,Expenses, Out-of-Pocket,Indirect Expenditure,Indirect Expenditures,Out of Pocket Cost,Out of Pocket Costs,Out of Pocket Expenditures,Out of Pocket Expense,Out of Pocket Expenses,Out of Pocket Payment,Out of Pocket Payments,Out of Pocket Spending,Out-of Pocket Expenditure,Out-of-Pocket Expenditure,Out-of-Pocket Expenditures,Payment, Out-of-Pocket,Payments, Out-of-Pocket,Spending, Out-of-Pocket
D006333	Heart Failure	A heterogeneous condition in which the heart is unable to pump out sufficient blood to meet the metabolic need of the body. Heart failure can be caused by structural defects, functional abnormalities (VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION), or a sudden overload beyond its capacity. Chronic heart failure is more common than acute heart failure which results from sudden insult to cardiac function, such as MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION.	Cardiac Failure,Heart Decompensation,Congestive Heart Failure,Heart Failure, Congestive,Heart Failure, Left-Sided,Heart Failure, Right-Sided,Left-Sided Heart Failure,Myocardial Failure,Right-Sided Heart Failure,Decompensation, Heart,Heart Failure, Left Sided,Heart Failure, Right Sided,Left Sided Heart Failure,Right Sided Heart Failure
D006353	Heart-Assist Devices	Small pumps, often implantable, designed for temporarily assisting the heart, usually the LEFT VENTRICLE, to pump blood. They consist of a pumping chamber and a power source, which may be partially or totally external to the body and activated by electromagnetic motors.	Artificial Ventricle,Heart Assist Device,Heart Ventricle, Artificial,Pumps, Heart-Assist,Vascular-Assist Device,Vascular-Assist Devices,Ventricle-Assist Device,Ventricular Assist Device,Artificial Heart Ventricle,Artificial Heart Ventricles,Artificial Ventricles,Assist Device, Heart,Assist Device, Ventricular,Assist Devices, Heart,Assist Devices, Ventricular,Device, Heart Assist,Device, Heart-Assist,Device, Vascular-Assist,Device, Ventricle-Assist,Device, Ventricular Assist,Devices, Heart Assist,Devices, Heart-Assist,Devices, Vascular-Assist,Devices, Ventricle-Assist,Devices, Ventricular Assist,Heart Assist Devices,Heart Ventricles, Artificial,Heart-Assist Device,Heart-Assist Pump,Heart-Assist Pumps,Pump, Heart-Assist,Pumps, Heart Assist,Vascular Assist Device,Vascular Assist Devices,Ventricle Assist Device,Ventricle, Artificial,Ventricle, Artificial Heart,Ventricle-Assist Devices,Ventricles, Artificial,Ventricles, Artificial Heart,Ventricular Assist Devices
D006354	Heart, Artificial	A pumping mechanism that duplicates the output, rate, and blood pressure of the natural heart. It may replace the function of the entire heart or a portion of it, and may be an intracorporeal, extracorporeal, or paracorporeal heart. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Artificial Heart,Artificial Hearts,Hearts, Artificial
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013675	Technology, High-Cost	Advanced technology that is costly, requires highly skilled personnel, and is unique in its particular application. Includes innovative, specialized medical/surgical procedures as well as advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.	High-Cost Technology,High Cost Technology,Technology, High Cost
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D016027	Heart Transplantation	The transference of a heart from one human or animal to another.	Cardiac Transplantation,Grafting, Heart,Transplantation, Cardiac,Transplantation, Heart,Cardiac Transplantations,Graftings, Heart,Heart Grafting,Heart Graftings,Heart Transplantations,Transplantations, Cardiac,Transplantations, Heart
D017048	Health Care Costs	The actual costs of providing services related to the delivery of health care, including the costs of procedures, therapies, and medications. It is differentiated from HEALTH EXPENDITURES, which refers to the amount of money paid for the services, and from fees, which refers to the amount charged, regardless of cost.	Medical Care Costs,Treatment Costs,Costs, Medical Care,Health Costs,Healthcare Costs,Cost, Health,Cost, Health Care,Cost, Healthcare,Cost, Medical Care,Cost, Treatment,Costs, Health,Costs, Health Care,Costs, Healthcare,Costs, Treatment,Health Care Cost,Health Cost,Healthcare Cost,Medical Care Cost,Treatment Cost