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.
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Advanced Heart Failure Cardiac Transplant Center, Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, New Orleans, LA 70112.
Ventura
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Smart
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Stapleton
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