Cardiac Assist Devices

In the last two decades, tremendous strides in the field of mechanical support have extended the lives of countless sufferers of congestive heart failure, who total close to 1% of the US population. This technology has saved the lives of patients with acute heart failure due to heart attacks, dilated cardiomyopathies and post-cardiotomy shock and sustained patients with end stage congestive heart failure until a precious donor organ has become available for transplantation. In an attempt to address the growing imbalance between demand and supply of donor hearts, and armed with great hope and excitement, investigators are now examining these devices as potential alternatives to cardiac transplantation.

This book describes in detail the historical evolution, current knowledge, and future trends in the field of mechanical circulatory support. It will be of greatest interest to cardiologists, circulatory physiologists, cardiac anaesthesiologists, critical care physicians, cardiac surgeons, and other healthcare professionals who are challenged daily with the care of patients with acute and chronic heart failure.

The book contains predominantly black-and-white illustrations, with some color illustrations.

Throughout history, the heart has captured the imagination of poets, artists, and scientists alike. The highest expression of this reverence is manifested by our desire to replicate this internal metronome, a feat that has been nearly accomplished by the miracles of modern medicine. This book describes in detail the historical evolution, current knowledge, and future directions in our quest to imitate this prodigious pump. In the last two decades tremendous strides in the field of mechanical support have extended the lives of countless sufferers of congestive heart failure, who total close to 1% of the US population. This technology has saved the lives of patients with acute heart failure due to heart attacks, dilated cardiomyopathies and post-cardiotomy shock and sustained patients with end-stage congestive heart failure until a precious donor organ has become available for transplantation. In an attempt to address the growing imbalance between demand and supply of donor hearts, and armed with great hope and excitement, investigators are now examining these devices as potential alternatives to cardiac transplantation. This book is organized into three main sections, encompassing 30 up-to-date chapters written by the leading authorities in the field. Part I presents an overview of the field of mechanical support, with emphasis placed on the perioperative management of patients requiring mechanical support. New and controversial issues like bridging to recovery, economic impact and immunobiology of assist devices are explored. Part II introduces the currently available devices, focusing on the individual characteristics of the most widely used extracorporeal and intracorporeal ventricular assist devices, including detailed illustrations, implantation techniques, device limitations, and results and outcomes. Part III explores the most promising devices and technologies currently undergoing preclinical evaluation, including the developer's descriptions and availability forecasts. This book will be of greatest interest to cardiologists, circulatory physiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, critical care physicians, cardiac surgeons and other healthcare professionals who are challenged daily with the care of patients with acute and chronic heart failure.

In the last two decades, tremendous strides in the field of mechanical support have extended the lives of countless sufferers of congestive heart failure, who total close to 1% of the US population. This technology has saved the lives of patients with acute heart failure due to heart attacks, dilated cardiomyopathies and post-cardiotomy shock and sustained patients with end stage congestive heart failure until a precious donor organ has become available for transplantation. In an attempt to address the growing imbalance between demand and supply of donor hearts, and armed with great hope and excitement, investigators are now examining these devices as potential alternatives to cardiac transplantation.

This book describes in detail the historical evolution, current knowledge, and future trends in the field of mechanical circulatory support. It will be of greatest interest to cardiologists, circulatory physiologists, cardiac anaesthesiologists, critical care physicians, cardiac surgeons, and other healthcare professionals who are challenged daily with the care of patients with acute and chronic heart failure.

Jennifer Lawton

This book is a very thorough and concise review of all cardiac assist devices. The content is exceptional in completeness: historical considerations and technical tips, a complete review of perioperative care and postoperative management, and a description of all available and future devices are all included. The editors strive to appeal to all healthcare workers and educate them on the practical aspects of cardiac assist devices. The book is very much needed and welcomed as a complete overview of this topic. The editors' objectives are clearly and concisely met. The editors and contributors are clearly experts in this field. The book is targeted to cardiothoracic surgeons, but it will appeal to all members of the healthcare team. Chapters on outpatient therapy, rehab, quality of life, and economic considerations are included. This book also may serve as a complete reference to surgeons in training. This book is a complete reference for the healthcare provider caring for patients with cardiac assist devices. The chapters are concise, manageable, and loaded with the most vital information. Perioperative and postoperative management issues are carefully detailed. The chapter on device selection is particularly helpful to the healthcare professional who must choose the appropriate device. The chapters on quality of life, rehabilitation, and economic considerations are unique and interesting additions. The complicated care of these patients is outlined in a straightforward fashion in the chapters on physiology of ventricular interactions, perioperative right-sided circulatory failure, and vasodilatory hypotension. The summary tables in several of the chapters provide quickreferences. The drawings are highly educational and quite helpful, particularly for the healthcare worker not familiar with a particular device. The quality of this book is excellent. It is a complete reference on this interesting and constantly changing topic. The book is highly educational and an outstanding contribution to the field.

Goldstein, Daniel J., MD (Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center); Oz, Mehmet C., MD, MBA (Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center)