title: HeartMate® II continuous-flow left ventricular assist system.
abstract: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have emerged as a beneficial therapeutic strategy proven to improve the morbidity and mortality of patients with advanced heart failure. Continuous-flow rotary LVADs have been developed in the hopes of delivering circulatory support in a more durable manner with fewer device-related complications. The HeartMate(®) II continuous-flow left ventricular assist system (LVAS; Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA) has become the standard of care for heart failure patients who require long-term mechanical circulatory support. The efficacy of the HeartMate II has been demonstrated in patients where temporary support with an LVAD is needed until a suitable donor organ can be found for transplant (termed 'bridge to transplantation'), as well as for terminally-ill heart failure patients who are not candidates for transplant ('destination therapy'). When directly compared with a pulsatile LVAD, the implantation of a HeartMate II LVAS resulted in an overall improvement in survival with a reduction in the number of device-related complications and adverse events. The purpose of this article is threefold: to describe the history of the development of continuous-flow LVADs; to describe the technology of the HeartMate II; and, finally, to review the clinical outcomes in patients who have been implanted with the device.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Carnegie 568, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Farooq H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Stuart D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019992:Databases as Topic; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000502:physiology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D016276:Ventricular Function