title: DuraHeart™ magnetically levitated left ventricular assist device: Osaka University experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The DuraHeart left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is the world's first approved magnetically levitated implantable centrifugal pump. We report our initial experience with the DuraHeart as a bridge to heart transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2008 and 2011, 23 patients (17 males; mean age 35 years, range 16-53 years) with endstage heart failure underwent implantation with the DuraHeart LVAD at Osaka University Hospital. Of those, 7 underwent conversion surgery from a Nipro paracorporeal LVAD to the DuraHeart. There were no deaths during the mean support period of 559±241 days (176-999 days). In total, 17 patients (74%) remain with the LVAD and 5 (22%) underwent heart transplantation after 580±302 days (176-982 days) of support. Major adverse events included 8 (34%) driveline/pocket infections, 4 (17%) cerebrovascular accidents, 4 (17%) right heart failures requiring mechanical support, and 3 (13%) mechanical device failures (magnetic levitation failure caused by driveline fracture). Of the 5 patients who developed pump pocket infection, 3 underwent previous conversion surgery from the Nipro LVAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our initial experience with the DuraHeart LVAD in Japan demonstrated excellent long-term survival with acceptable rates of adverse events. With refinement of the system, including mechanical durability, this pump will further enhance the quality of life for patients who require long-term mechanical circulatory support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matsumiya
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyagawa
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Satsuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011788:Quality of Life