Permanent LVAS Implanted in Patient

The first patient permanently implanted with the Heartmate XVE left ventricular assist system (LVAS) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC, PA, USA) was discharged in July 2004.

The implant was done as a permanent implant in lieu of a heart transplant, as opposed to the traditional bridge-to-transplant use for this kind of device. The patient was a 58-year-old man with end-stage heart failure. Heartmate was developed by Thoratec (Pleasanton, CA, USA; www.thoratec.com) and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this kind of "destination therapy” in patients with end-stage heart failure who have a life expectancy of less then two years and are not viable candidates for heart transplantation.

The University of Pittsburgh is only one of two centers in western Pennsylvania approved to implant Heartmate XVE. "Heart transplantation is still the best option for long-term survival, but unfortunately, it is not feasible for everyone,” noted Robert L. Kormos, M.D., professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of UPMC's artificial heart and heart transplant programs. "This new therapy allows us to return people to productive lives at home as an alternative to dying from end-stage congestive heart failure.”



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