Good news and bad news: the cost of mending a broken heart.
The approval of a new treatment protocol known as "destination therapy" highlights the realities of today's health economics. This article discusses the technology, the economics and the philosophy of the newly approved left-ventricular-assist systems.
Williams
David
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Department of Clinical Engineering, University of Liverpool. dfw.ce@liverpool.ac.uk
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods; D018795:Device Approval; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D011475:Prosthesis Failure / Q000191:economics*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration