Circulatory support for long-term treatment of heart failure: experience with an intraventricular continuous flow pump.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: A lifetime mechanical solution for advanced heart failure must be reliable, with a low risk of life-threatening complications. After extensive laboratory testing, we began clinical trials with an axial flow pump for long-term treatment of New York Heart Association class IV, transplant-ineligible patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Jarvik 2000 is a continuous flow device that is implanted in the apex of the left ventricle with offloading to the descending thoracic aorta. Skull-based percutaneous power delivery was derived from cochlear implant technology. We used this system in 4 patients with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. Exercise capacity, quality of life, device parameters, and native heart function were monitored serially. One patient died from right heart failure at 3 months. The other patients were discharged from hospital between 3 and 8 weeks postoperatively and are currently New York Heart Association I or II. Follow-up lasted between 9 and 20 months. There has been no device failure or hemolysis. Native heart function and quality of life were markedly improved. CONCLUSIONS: The Jarvik 2000 is a true assist (rather than replacement) device that functions synergistically with the native left ventricle and provides excellent quality of life. Adverse events are infrequent. This blood pump may provide a mechanical solution for end-stage heart failure in the community.

Authors: Westaby, S; Banning, A; Saito, S; Pigott, D; Jin, X

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Circulation
• Volume: 105
• Issue: 22
• Pages: 2588-2591
• Publication date: 2002-06-01
• DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.0000018165.24503.5b
• EISSN: 1524-4539
• ISSN: 0009-7322
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Follow-Up Studies; Middle Aged; Heart Ventricles; Echocardiography; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Recovery of Function; Male; Quality of Life; Heart-Assist Devices; Heart Function Tests; Exercise Tolerance; Equipment Design; Ventricular Dysfunction; Survival Rate; Time; Body Weight; Postoperative Complications; Treatment Outcome; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Thrombosis; Heart Failure; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged