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Left Ventricular Assist Systems (LVAS)
Advancements Made in the Third-Generation LVAS
What is an LVAS?
A left ventricular assist system (LVAS) is a medical device designed to treat end-stage congestive heart failure. An LVAS can be implanted inside the body or reside outside of the body. It typically consists of a pump and several accessories or components to support the pump.
An LVAS is a mechanical pump intended to assist a weak heart that cannot efficiently pump blood on its own. By decreasing the workload of the heart, it helps to maintain sufficient blood flow and blood pressure.
Who Needs an LVAS?
An LVAS is intended for end-stage heart failure patients (classified in NYHA class IV, or ACC/AHA stage D) who are unable to receive a heart transplant due to donor availability, eligibility, or other factors. An LVAS can be used for the following purposes:
Bridge to Transplant: With fewer than 4,000 donor hearts available annually, there are large numbers of patients with end-stage heart failure placed on heart transplant waiting lists. Candidates on waiting lists may wait a year or longer, lowering their quality of life and chances of survival. An LVAS can be used to improve the patient’s quality of life and increase the probability of survival while awaiting a donor heart.
Bridge to Recovery: Some disease-weakened hearts have the potential to recover. Implanting an LVAS can decrease the workload of the heart, potentially allowing it to recover. If the heart muscle recovers, the LVAS can later be removed.
Destination Therapy: Not all end-stage heart failure patients are eligible to receive donor hearts. Some patients with other health problems are excluded from consideration. In this case, if medications and other treatments are ineffective, an LVAS may be used as a permanent implant to extend, and increase the quality of life.
Advancements Made in the Third-Generation LVAS
The third-generation LVAS is intended to address the high complication rates of earlier generation LVAS technology. Severe problems included stroke, infection, and mechanical failures.
Third-generation systems are characterized by a suspended impeller which freely rotates within the blood chamber without physical contact points. These features are expected to increase reliability, and decrease complications during long-term use.