Durable Ventricular Assist Device for Bridge to Transplantation

Abstract

A durable ventricular assist device (VAD) is a key mechanical circulatory support to safely bridge a heart transplant candidate to transplantation over a long waiting period. Recent UNOS policy change has a great impact on the role of continuous-flow VAD as a bridging device. The rest of the majority of countries still rely on a cf-VAD as a safe and effective support device. A sole durable VAD for bridge to transplantation in pediatric patients is Berlin Heart EXCOR, for which there is a growing demand through the improvement of a long-term result. In this chapter, I will overview the history and the present status of durable VAD for bridge to transplantation in both adult and pediatric patients.