Implantable left ventricular assist devices provide an excellent outpatient bridge to transplantation and recovery

Objectives. Our recent experience with outpatient left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support is presented to demonstrate the possibilities and limitations of long-term outpatient mechanical circulatory assistance. Background. The experience with inpatient LVAD support as a bridge to transplantation has proved the efficacy of such therapy in improving circulatory hemodynamic status, restoring normal end organ function and facilitating patient rehabilitation. With miniaturization of the power supplies and controllers, such mechanical circulatory support can now be accomplished in an outpatient setting. Methods. Between March 1993 and February 1997, 32 patients (26 male, 6 female, mean [+/-SEM] age 49 +/- 15 years) underwent implantation of the ThermoCardiosystems (TCI) Heartmate vented electric (VE) LVAD. The VE LVAD is powered by batteries worn on shoulder holsters and is operated by a belt-mounted system controller, allowing unrestricted patient ambulation and hospital discharge.