BACKGROUND The failing myocardium is characterized by decreased force production, slowed relaxation, and depressed responses to beta-adrenergic stimulation. In some heart failure patients, heart function is so poor that a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is inserted as a bridge to transplantation. In the present research, we investigated whether circulatory support with an LVAD influenced ...

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used as a bridge to cardiac transplantation and as destination therapy in patients with advanced heart failure. The period after LVAD support is associated with ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) despite ventricular unloading and such VAs can have a detrimental effect on survival. Despite the increasing use of LVAD, little is known regardi...

OBJECTIVES This study sought to prospectively investigate the longitudinal effects of continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) unloading on myocardial structure and systolic and diastolic function. BACKGROUND The magnitude, timeline, and sustainability of changes induced by continuous-flow LVAD on the structure and function of the failing human heart are unknown. METHODS Eighty...

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) induce reverse remodeling of the failing heart except for the extracellular matrix, which exhibits additional pathophysiological changes, although their mechanisms and functional consequences are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS Hearts were obtained at transplant from patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) not requiring LVAD suppor...

OBJECTIVES In a retrospective study, we sought to evaluate the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy on ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. BACKGROUND Despite the increasing use of LVAD as a bridge to cardiac transplantation, our knowledge regarding its effect on ventricular arrhythmias is currently limited to small series. Little...

A patient with idiopathic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy had a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted, while awaiting cardiac transplantation. The patient had been stable following a complicated and prolonged postoperative course, but was admitted to the hospital for suspected low-grade LVAD-related infection. Work-up for sepsis was suspicious for perforated viscus. An exploratory laparot...

BACKGROUND Technological advancements of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have created today's potential for extending the lives of patients with end-stage heart failure. Few studies have examined the effect of LVAD therapy on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), such as health status, quality of life, and anxiety/depression, despite poor PROs predicting mortality and rehospitalization in pa...

PURPOSE The primary purpose of this study was to examine the changes in myocardial oxidative stress during the support of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). METHODS Myocardial tissue was collected from the lower left ventricle of 15 adult subjects with class IV heart failure (HF) during LVAD placement (n=9) or LVAD removal (Post-LVAD; n=6). Each tissue sample was separated into cytosoli...

The growing field of implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) lacks studies that evaluate the sexual and psychosocial concerns of LVAD patients. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the sexual and psychosocial behaviors of these patients. A sexual and psychosocial survey was conducted in patients who underwent the implantation of LVAD. Inclusion criteria were patients w...

The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a battery-operated, mechanical pump-type device that helps in maintaining the pumping ability of a failing heart. Thromboembolism poses a significant risk during and after LVAD implantation. It occurs in up to 35% of patients with adverse sequelae. We present the case of a 75-year-old man who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery and LVAD im...