Ventricular Assist Devices
Special Devices Help an Ailing Heart
The University of Chicago Hospitals is home to one the most respected heart failure programs in the world. For many years, our surgeons have been working with leading manufacturers to bring the most promising technologies to our heart failure patients. Among these are ventricular assist devices (VADs), which can help a weak heart so that it pumps blood more efficiently.
The CardioVadSurgeons at the University of Chicago Hospitals were the first in the world to successfully implant the CardioVad, an experimental device that takes some of the pressure off a weak heart. Today, our doctors are the only team in the world involved in clinical studies of the next generation of the device, the CardioVad 2. The University of Chicago is also one of the few hospitals to have access to many FDA-approved VADs, such as the Heartmate and TandemHeart. Each year, our experienced team implants about 30 devices in people with severe heart failure.
Frequently Asked Questions About VADs
- What is a ventricular assist device?
- How do VADs work?
- What's different about the CardioVad?
- Who is a candidate for a VAD?
- What are the risks?
Q. What is a ventricular assist device?
A. A ventricular assist device is a surgically implanted pump designed for people with heart failure. Different types of VADs are approved for different purposes. Some can be used as a "bridge to transplant." In other words, they can be used for several months to help extend the life of someone waiting for a heart transplant. For people with severe, end-stage congestive heart failure who aren't candidates for heart transplant, VADs may be used as "destination therapy." This means the pumps are placed permanently. The VADs are portable, so patients can live at home and have their freedom. Besides extending a patient's life, these devices can improve symptoms of heart failure, such as fatigue and shortness of breath.
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Q. How do VADs work?
A. VADs act as backup to one of the heart's main pumping areas, the ventricle. How they pump blood through the ventricle varies by device. Some work by pulling blood from the left ventricle (the lower part of the heart) and pushing it out the aorta, the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Others work on the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, which carries blood from the heart to the lungs. In other words, VADs don't replace the heart, they help it work better.
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Q. What's different about the CardioVad?
A. The CardioVad is unique in that it uses a simple balloon pump to push blood out of the aorta, one of the main arteries, or blood vessels, of the heart. When the balloon deflates, it creates a vacuum that helps draw blood through the heart. Unlike other devices, the CardioVad has no valves that can weaken over time. It can even be turned on or off according to the patient's needs.
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Q. Who is a candidate for a VAD?
A. VADs are for people with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) who meet certain criteria. For example, the CardioVad was designed for patients with chronic CHF who have frequent hospitalizations and poor quality of life but who are not candidates for a heart transplant.
In general, people who might not be good candidates for VADs are those with kidney failure, liver disease, lung disease, or blood clotting disorders.
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Q. What are the risks?
A. Implanting a VAD requires major surgery. Your doctor will discuss some of the risks of the procedure, such as bleeding, blood clots, stroke, and infections. You'll need to weigh these potential risks against the possible benefits of surgery.
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More Information
- Diagnostic and Medical Care
- Surgical Care
- Ventricular Reconstruction
- Ventricular Assist Devices
- Heart Transplantation
- Research
