VAD offers alternative to heart transplant

The ventricular assist device (VAD) was once seen only as a bridge to transplantation — a way to keep the sickest patient with heart failure alive until a donor became available. But as the technology continues to improve, it is increasingly viewed as an attractive destination treatment for patients who are not eligible for transplants, says cardiologist Robb MacLellan, M.D., who runs the UCLA Ventricular Assist Device Program. In some cases, he notes, patients who receive the newest-generation VAD find that their quality of life has improved to the point that they no longer desire a new heart.

A heart transplant still is the ideal therapy, but there are as many as 10,00050,000 people in the United States who have late-stage heart failure and are either on the waiting list or ineligible for a transplant, says Ann Hickey, M.D., UCLA heart transplant cardiologist. It is great to be able to offer these individuals something so compatible with a normal lifestyle.

Learn more at www.transplants.ucla.edu

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• VAD
• ventricular assist device
• ucla transplant services
• heart failure
• Dr. Robb MacLellan
• Dr. Ann Hickey
• transplant cardiologist
• heart donor

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