Ventricular assist device
- Ventricular assist device
- A mechanical pump that takes over the function of the damaged ventricle of the heart and restores normal blood flow. Left ventricular assist devices were originally developed for patients with heart disease from which they were not expected to recover and who needed mechanical support as a bridge to a heart transplant. Left ventricular assist devices were then used in patients with heart failure who needed ventricular assistance to allow the heart to rest and recover its function. This permitted a meaningfully longer survival and an improved quality of life. Left ventricular assist devices also provide an alternative treatment for patients with advanced heart failure who are not candidates for cardiac transplantation.
* * *
ventricular as·sist device -ə-'sist- n VAD
* * *
(VAD) a device that aids circulation by augmenting function of the left ventricle, the right ventricle, or both; it consists of one or two implanted or extracorporeal pumps with afferent and efferent conduits attached so as to provide mechanically assisted pulsatile blood flow. See left ventricular assist d., right ventricular assist d., and biventricular assist d.
Medical dictionary.
2011.
Look at other dictionaries:
Ventricular assist device — Graphic describing a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). The device pumps blood from the left ventricle to the aorta. A Ventricular assist device, or VAD, is a mechanical circulatory device that is used to partially or completely replace the… … Wikipedia
ventricular assist device — noun Date: 1970 a device implanted in the chest or upper abdomen to assist a damaged or weakened heart in pumping blood … New Collegiate Dictionary
left ventricular assist device — (LVAD) a ventricular assist device capable of augmenting left ventricular function; its pump has an afferent conduit attached to the left atrium or left ventricular apex and an efferent conduit attached to the ascending aorta. Implanted systems… … Medical dictionary
right ventricular assist device — (RVAD) a ventricular assist device capable of augmenting right ventricular function; its pump has an afferent conduit attached to the right atrium and an efferent conduit attached to the pulmonary artery. Cf. biventricular assist d. and left… … Medical dictionary
biventricular assist device — (BVAD) a ventricular assist device with the combined functions of both left and right ventricular assist devices … Medical dictionary
device — An appliance, usually mechanical, designed to perform a specific function, such as prosthesis or orthesis. [M.E., fr. O.Fr. devis, fr. L. divisum, divided] central bearing d. in dentistry, a d. which provides a central point of bearing, or … Medical dictionary
VAD — Ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that takes over the function of the damaged ventricle of the heart and restores normal blood flow. Left ventricular assist devices were developed for patients with heart disease from which they were… … Medical dictionary
Artificial heart — This article is about the mechanical device. For the album, see Artificial Heart (album). The SynCardia temporary CardioWest Total Artificial Heart … Wikipedia
Destination therapy — (often abbreviated DT) is a term used to describe a course of treatment for severe (e.g., NYHA stage IV/ACC stage D) heart failure patients. It involves using a mechanical circulatory support (MCS) when there is no option of eventually providing… … Wikipedia
William S. Pierce — (born January 12, 1937) is the cardiothoracic surgeon and chemical engineer who led development of the first pneumatic heart assist pump. The Pierce Donachy Ventricular Assist Device, also known as the Penn State Assist Pump, was designated an… … Wikipedia
