title: Left Ventricular Assist Devices as Bridge to Cardiac Recovery in Nonischemic Heart Failure: Keeping Weaning from the Device in Mind.
abstract: A minority of patients on left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) display myocardial recovery raising the question of device explantation. We report a series of seven LVAD patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy allowing explantation of the VAD. In case of four patients we overview follow-up periods of 4 to 10 years. Remarkably, in three cases device explantation was considered beyond 1 year of LVAD support. Explantation was finally performed after 20 months and more on the device. In light of the scarcity of donor organs we conclude that patients on LVAD support should be evaluated for possible weaning from the device on a regular basis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akil
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Holthaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sindermann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult