Difficult cases in heart failure: Left ventricular assist device implantation for the treatment of recurrent ventricular tachycardia in end stage heart failure.
The authors describe the surgical implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in a patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy and recurring episodes of ventricular tachycardia with associated sudden death, as a therapeutic intervention for the recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. The clinical inference of this report demonstrates that these devices are useful as a bridge to heart transplantation, not only improving the symptoms of heart failure but also suppressing malignant ventricular arrhythmias. (c) 1999 by CHF, Inc.
Advanced Heart Failure Cardiac Transplant Center, Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, New Orleans, LA 70112.
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