Ventricular Assist Devices

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Ventricular Assist Devices

The Jarvik 2000 is a vast improvement in artificial hearts since its predecessor the Jarvik-7. The Jarvik 2000 is a ventricular assist device. Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) are a less invasive alternative to an artificial heart transplant. They are intended to assist the heart in pumping blood, not to replace the heart. These devices are implanted into the body and pump blood through the aorta thus, relieving the weakened ventricle of its normal workload. It works as a rotary pump so that blood is constantly flowing and therefore there is no longer a pulse. This device is not completely self-contained; a battery pack and the external components must be worn around the waist. This allows the patient unrestricted movement and not be immobilized as was the case for the original artificial heart. The battery pack transmits energy up to a component around the skull, the power is then conducted through wires that pass internally down the neck. Unlike Jarvik-7, which was to serve as a temporary artificial heart until a donor was found and a transplant could be performed, the Jarvik-2000 is being developed as a permanent assist device.5

Peter Houghton

Mr. Peter Houghton is the first patient who was fitted with the ventricular assist device. He was 61 years old during the time of the operation, which took place in June of 2000. Mr. Houghton, who was suffering from heart failure, was only expected to live a couple of weeks longer without a heart transplant or artificial help. He underwent the procedure that took 14 hours in order prolong his life. He showed significant progress six weeks after his surgery with his heart and liver functions improving greatly. Mr. Houghton is capable of exercise due to the ability to manually control the blood flow rate of the device throughout his body. Recently on August 16, 2004 Mr. Houghton set the world record for longest time as a patient living with a cardiac assist device, at that day he had lived with the device for 1518 days. His condition has improved so much that he can live with the device turned off for short periods of time.

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