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Review
. 2025 Aug 4:12:1645705.
doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1645705. eCollection 2025.

Physiologic effects of different hemodynamic patterns of LVAD

Jiahao Mao  1 , Zhen Gao  1 , Wenyuan Yu  1 , Yang Yu  1
Affiliations
Review

Physiologic effects of different hemodynamic patterns of LVAD

Jiahao Mao et al. Front Cardiovasc Med. .

Abstract

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is an important treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure, which essentially replaces the left ventricle's pumping action to improve peripheral circulation. Its hemodynamic pattern (pulsatile vs. continuous flow) has been a popular research topic in the field. Because of its dependability and endurance, the continuous flow LVAD (CFVAD), as opposed to the first generation of pulsatile flow LVAD (PFVAD), has gained popularity as a mechanical support device in clinical practice in recent years. Many of the complications that arise with CFVAD application are thought to be related to reduced pulsatility. This article provides a review of the physiologic effects of different hemodynamic patterns on the circulatory system and the difference in outcomes of PFVAD vs. CFVAD.

Keywords: continuous flow; heart failure; left ventricular assist device (LVAD); pulsatile flow; pulsatility.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The response of endothelial cells of the vascular wall to pulsatile blood flow.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Complications associated with CFVAD-mediated nonpulsatile blood flow.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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