The left ventricular assist device.
Of the 400,000 people in the United States who develop end-stage heart failure each year, 60,000 are unresponsive to medical therapy and 2,500 undergo heart transplantation. Surgically implanted pumps, called LVADs, are extending many lives.
Bond
A Elaine
AE
College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA. Elaine_Bond@BYU.edu
Nelson
Karl
K
Germany
Cara Lynn
CL
Smart
Angie N
AN
D000368:Aged; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D014850:Waiting Lists