title: Initial experiences with the HeartMate vented electric left ventricular assist system in Japan.
abstract: We report three consecutive cases of long-term circulatory support using the HeartMate vented electric (VE) left ventricular assist system (LVAS). The HeartMate VE LVAS dramatically improved the functional status and quality of life of these three patients with end-stage heart failure, and all were successfully bridged to transplantation after 659, 995, and 1055 days of support on the device. Only an antiplatelet agent was used for anticoagulation therapy, and no cerebrovascular event occurred. Although the pump stopped in two of these three patients 665 days and 491 days after implantation, both were supported by the backup pneumatic driver thereafter. The drive-line exit site became infected in one patient and thinning of the left ventricular wall due to an unknown cause occurred in one patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakatani
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niwaya
authors.forename: Junjiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanatani
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tagusari
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyatake
authors.forename: Toshikatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yagihara
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation