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. 2015 Aug 8:10:107.
doi: 10.1186/s13019-015-0306-x.

Circulatory support exceeding five years with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device for advanced heart failure patients

Jan D Schmitto  1 , Jasmin S Hanke  2 , Sebastian Rojas  2 , Murat Avsar  2 , Doris Malehsa  2 , Christoph Bara  2 , Martin Strueber  2 , Axel Haverich  2
Affiliations

Circulatory support exceeding five years with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device for advanced heart failure patients

Jan D Schmitto et al. J Cardiothorac Surg. .

Abstract

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVAD) are now providing years of safe circulatory support with enhanced quality of life. We present four cases of patients with advanced heart failure who received support for greater than 5-years with the HeartMate II CF-LVAD. One patient continues with support at 7.5 years and has decided to not undergo cardiac transplantation. Another patient has also had LVAD support for 7.7 years, initially with a pulsatile flow LVAD, and then was switched to the HeartMate II, which has continued to support him for the last 6.6 years. Two other patients have undergone heart transplant after support times of 5.46 years and 5.75 years. Few complications occurred and the patients had very active lifestyles during support. Explant analysis revealed very low bearing wear and minimal pannus.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The driveline exit site in patient 1 after 7.5 years of support
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The inlet bearing ball (a) and cup (b) explanted from the patient in case 3 after 5.46 years of LVAD support are free of accumulated thrombus and demonstrate low bearing wear
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The absence of pannus in the interior of the outflow elbow explanted from the patient in case 3 after 5.46 years of LVAD support
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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