Hope to live for patients with severe heart failure

Patients with severe heart failure can now improve their lives with functional support for damaged heart parts, even they have the right to hope to continue their lives for many more years.

Experts say, Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) , temporarily translating Ventricular Support Devices , developed by Thoratec (USA), is an optimal mechanical alternative to the heart but not is an artificial heart. According to doctors, within 90 minutes to 2 hours, they will implant the VAD pump between the chest and upper abdomen of the patient. One end of the VAD is connected to the left ventricle and the other end is connected to the aorta. The left ventricle will send blood to the device, then the blood continues to move through a roller, following the flow and being pushed into the aorta to move throughout the body.

In addition, the VAD is connected to a regulator equipped with a low-voltage, high-strength Lithium-Ion battery, rechargeable after 8 hours mounted on the patient's belt. Through the controller, the patient can adjust the pumped blood flow depending on the metabolic needs of each person.

Mukesh Hariawala, a heart surgeon and a collaborator with the Medical School, Harvard University, said about 10,000 people worldwide have had VAD transplants and the current results are "excellent" because of the device. with a very high success rate, rare complications occur, so patients can live for another 8 to 10 years. Although the device is currently very expensive, patients of any age can be compatible with VAD, especially those over 50 and waiting for a transplant.