Cardiac assist devices: bridging and beyond.
Due to the high incidence of death while awaiting cardiac transplantation today, most major transplant centers have adopted the use of left ventricular assist devices in order to stave off the complications of end-stage heart failure and allow patients to maintain a good physiologic state going into heart transplantation. These devices are safe and may one day prove to be a substitute for the short supply of donor organs.
Van Meter
C H
CH
Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery Dept, Ochsner Medical Institutions, New Orleans, LA 70121.
Smart
F W
FW
McFadden
P M
PM
Pridjian
A K
AK
Ventura
H O
HO
Cassidy
C D
CD
Ochsner
J L
JL
D004867:Equipment Design; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D014850:Waiting Lists