Biomaterial Database

Left ventricular assist as a viable alternative for cardiac transplantation. 1998

S R Chillcott, and P J Atkins, and R M Adamson

Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, California, USA.

Implantation of left ventricular assist systems (LVASs) is becoming more prevalent for patients with end-stage heart disease who are awaiting cardiac transplantation. The original intent of the LVAS was to provide an alternative to transplantation, but until recently, the LVAS has been approved only as a bridge to transplantation. Now that bridging to transplantation for patients with LVASs has exceeded 2-year periods, permanent implantation is being done as an alternative to transplantation. This article reviews the fundamental components of the HeartMate Vented Electric LVAS (Thermo Cardiosystems, Inc, Woburn, MA) with a focus on patient complications and nursing implications. Additionally, the intraoperative implantation procedure is presented. Finally, ethical and financial considerations related to permanent LVAS implantation are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009202	Cardiomyopathies	A group of diseases in which the dominant feature is the involvement of the CARDIAC MUSCLE itself. Cardiomyopathies are classified according to their predominant pathophysiological features (DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY; HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY; RESTRICTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY) or their etiological/pathological factors (CARDIOMYOPATHY, ALCOHOLIC; ENDOCARDIAL FIBROELASTOSIS).	Myocardial Disease,Myocardial Diseases,Myocardial Diseases, Primary,Myocardial Diseases, Secondary,Myocardiopathies,Primary Myocardial Disease,Cardiomyopathies, Primary,Cardiomyopathies, Secondary,Primary Myocardial Diseases,Secondary Myocardial Diseases,Cardiomyopathy,Cardiomyopathy, Primary,Cardiomyopathy, Secondary,Disease, Myocardial,Disease, Primary Myocardial,Disease, Secondary Myocardial,Diseases, Myocardial,Diseases, Primary Myocardial,Diseases, Secondary Myocardial,Myocardial Disease, Primary,Myocardial Disease, Secondary,Myocardiopathy,Primary Cardiomyopathies,Primary Cardiomyopathy,Secondary Cardiomyopathies,Secondary Cardiomyopathy,Secondary Myocardial Disease
D004992	Ethics, Medical	The principles of professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of the physician, relations with patients and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the physician in patient care and interpersonal relations with patient families.	Medical Ethics
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
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
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
D018579	Patient Selection	Criteria and standards used for the determination of the appropriateness of the inclusion of patients with specific conditions in proposed treatment plans and the criteria used for the inclusion of subjects in various clinical trials and other research protocols.	Patient Recruitment,Research Subject Recruitment,Selection Criteria,Research Subject Selection,Selection for Treatment,Selection of Research Volunteers,Selection of Subjects,Criteria, Selection,Recruitment, Patient,Recruitment, Research Subject,Recruitments, Research Subject,Research Subject Recruitments,Research Subject Selections,Research Volunteers Selection,Research Volunteers Selections,Selection for Treatments,Selection, Patient,Selection, Research Subject,Selections, Research Subject,Subject Recruitment, Research,Subject Recruitments, Research,Subject Selection, Research,Subject Selections, Research,Subjects Selection,Subjects Selections,Treatment, Selection for,Treatments, Selection for,Volunteers Selection, Research