Mechanical treatment of heart failure: the growing role of LVADs and artificial hearts.
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and artificial hearts are improving. These devices can prolong a patient's life while on a heart transplant list. More exciting, mechanical assistance may provide an opportunity for a damaged heart to recover some function. Still, despite the promise, the use of these devices raises some difficult cost-benefit and ethical questions.
Nemeh
Hassan W
HW
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill 60153, USA. hnemeh@hotmail.com
Smedira
Nicholas G
NG
D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D006354:Heart, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*