Myocardial recovery: a focus on the impact of left ventricular assist devices

Abstract

Heart failure remains one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide and in recent decades, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become an important treatment option. With increasing device experience, there is particular interest in the use of LVADs as a bridge to recovery that allows the patient's heart to undergo reverse remodeling, whereby the device can be explanted and the heart can function at an improved state. There are many considerations that play a role in this process, including the ability of the device to unload the heart, the innate physiology of the heart to recover and the use of concomitant therapies. This review provides an overview of the most current literature as it pertains to these processes and gives a view into the future directions of LVADs as a tool for achieving myocardial recovery.

Preliminary design of the internal geometry in a minimally invasive left ventricular assist device under pulsatile-flow conditions

“…[1][2][3] Reports suggest that some patients' ventricular function is substantially restored during LVAD therapy. 4,5 With the development of minimally invasive implantation procedures, more focus is now placed on designing miniature LVADs that can partially support the left ventricle (LV). [6][7][8] These devices make it possible to treat heart failure through earlier intervention to promote LV recovery and maintain perfusion of vital organs.…”

Subcostal Approach to Replacement of a HeartMate II Device: Indications and Technique

“…A dvanced heart failure is a growing problem currently affecting 6 million people in the United States with a 5year mortality rate exceeding 50%. 1 For patients with endstage failure, heart transplant was previously the only solution, but a shortage of organs remains. Ventricular assist devices, particularly the HeartMate II, have been developed both as a bridge to transplant and for destination therapy and have significantly improved the quality of life and life expectancy of these patients.…”

In Vitro Evaluation of the Dual‐Diffuser Design for a Reversible Rotary Intra‐Aortic Ventricular Assist Device

“…Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been clinically accepted for treating end‐stage left heart failure (HF) as bridge to transplant and as a destination therapy . LVADs can successfully unload ventricular volume and ventricular pressure for the compromised left ventricle (LV) . After a certain period of implantation, the native myocardial function can be restored in some cases .…”