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Ventricular Assist Devices: Is Destination Therapy a Viable Alternative in the Non-Transplant Candidate?

  • Nonpharmacologic Therapy: Surgery, Ventricular Assist Devices, Biventricular Pacing, and Exercise (AK Hasan, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Heart Failure Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The topic of this article, stated a more familiar way, is whether left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are ready for ‘Primetime’ as a therapeutic option in and of themselves. In order to provide an update and insight on this question, we briefly review from where the field has come, and in more detail describe its current state and where we are heading. We believe the short answer to this question is ‘Yes’, but like many things, a short answer is not adequate. Here we attempt to deliver a more comprehensive answer, providing some historical context, outlining the great achievements that have been made, as well as the many challenges that still remain before LVADs become a truly mainstream therapy.

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Acknowledgments

D.E. Lanfear is supported by grants from Thoratec and HeartWare for participation in clinical trials and registries.

Disclosure

T. Hrobowski: none; D.E. Lanfear: payment from Thoratec for lectures given during a fellow educational meeting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA

    Tara Hrobowski & David E. Lanfear

  2. Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation, Center for Health Services Research, Wayne State University, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    David E. Lanfear

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  1. Tara Hrobowski
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  2. David E. Lanfear
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Correspondence to David E. Lanfear.

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Hrobowski, T., Lanfear, D.E. Ventricular Assist Devices: Is Destination Therapy a Viable Alternative in the Non-Transplant Candidate?. Curr Heart Fail Rep 10, 101–107 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-012-0123-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-012-0123-7

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