The clinical application and the problems in future for the ventricular assist device

• Published in: Kyobu geka. The Japanese journal of thoracic surgery Vol. 42; no. 8 Suppl; p. 670
• Main Author: Sezai, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01-07-1989
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Female; Forecasting; Heart Transplantation; Heart, Artificial; Heart-Assist Devices - trends; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Japan
• ISSN: 0021-5252

In an attempt to save patients with severe cardiac pump failure to which no emergency methods of treatment show effect even with various medications or machinery assisted circulation, the ventricular assisted device (VAD) has come more and more in need today as it provides patients with a temporary cardiac function and serves as a life-prolongation means, eventually aiming at patients' return to normal daily life. In Japan, basic researches for development of VAD have been proceeding since 1960. We have been pursuing researches in the related scientific field since 1980 with the theme of clinical application of VAD and have completed the total system of VAD in August, 1982. In October 1982, we succeeded for the first time in Japan in weaning a patient from the VAD. Until April, 1988 we had managed clinical applications of VAD in 121 cases. Based on this experience, I have presented here a result of our clinical analysis of these cases and have come up with the problems surrounding the clinical application of VAD.