Pulsatile vs. continuous flow in ventricular assist device therapy.
A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is an important treatment option for a patient with end-stage heart failure. Both continuous and non-pulsatile devices are available, each with different effects on a patient's physiology. In general, these effects are not clinically significant with the exception of bleeding events which are more common with continuous-flow devices in some series. Both devices increase survival beyond medical management. Continuous-flow devices are smaller and are associated with less overall morbidity than pulsatile devices.
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA.
Gabriel
G
Loor
Gonzalo
G
Gonzalez-Stawinski
D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015996:Survival Rate