Axial flow pumps have gained increased acceptance since their first clinical use in 1998. The present report summarizes the clinical experience with patients treated for severe cardiogenic shock for the first time with a newly developed axial flow pump with magnetically levitated bearings. Material and methods: The axial flow pump Incor was implanted in 24 patients between June 2002 and June 2003. All except one patient were men. In 16 patients dilative cardiomyopathy, in seven ischemic and in one restrictive cardiomypathy had been diagnosed. All patients presented with catecholamine-dependent end-stage heart failure, seven of them were on an artificial ventilator and three were dependent on intraaortic balloon pump support. All patients suffered from organ dysfunction resulting from low cardiac output. Results: There were no perioperative deaths. The 30-day mortality rate was 8% (n=2); 79% (n=19) of patients reached a condition to be discharged home. The cumulative time on the device is 6.9 years; the longest individual time up to July 1, 2003 is 12.6 months. There were no structural defects or failures of the system. In one case the controller had to be exchanged because of intermittent malfunction. Cardiac output ranged between 4 and 6 l in all instances and there were no cases of infection of the drive-line or the system. Hemolysis was present initially but was not detectable in the later course. There were three instances of transient ischemic attacks. Two patients developed late cardiac tamponade with re-opening of the chest after 9 and 14 days. In one patient persistent gastrointestinal bleeding required re-hospitalization and transfusion therapy. Two patients were weaned from the device after 6 and 7 months of support, respectively. Conclusion: The preliminary clinical experience with Incor is promising. The flow is sufficient for recovery from multiorgan failure and the pump allows long-term hemolysis-free support. The concept of magnetically levitated bearings has proven to be durable and reliable. In the case that the heart may recover through unloading, weaning from the pump is possible.

Axial-flow pump

10.1016/j.ejcts.2004.02.038

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Citations (137)

A Multi-Center Evaluation of Outflow Graft Obstruction with a Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device

The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation (2022)

Leonhard Wert Garrick C. Stewart Mandeep R. Mehra Assi Milwidsky Ulrich P. Jorde

Destination therapy

Intravascular Ultrasound

Single Center

Ventricular outflow tract

10.1016/j.healun.2022.01.052

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Citations (0)

Intracorporeal Biventricular Assist Device Therapy in an 8-Year-Old Child

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (2018)

Antonia Schulz Evgenij Potapov Mi-Young Cho

Destination therapy

10.1053/j.semtcvs.2018.06.002

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Citations (3)

Contemporary Outcomes of Continuous-Flow Bi-Ventricular Assist Devices

Heart Lung and Circulation (2023)

Nicholas McNamara James Farag Kei Woldendorp Paul G. Bannon Silvana Marasco

Pulsatile flow

Right ventricular failure

10.1016/j.hlc.2023.04.063

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Citations (1)

TRANSCONTINENTAL TRANSPORT OF A PATIENT WITH AN ABIOMED BVS 5000 BVAD

ASAIO Journal (2003)

Evgenij Potapov Frank Merkle Andreas Güttel Miralem Pašić Michael George Caleb

In patients with severe cardiogenic shock requiring implantation of a assist device a transportation may be necessary. We report on the first successful transcontinental air transport of a patient with an Abiomed BVS 5000 BVAD. A 59-year-old European tourist weighing 110 kg was admitted to hospital in Singapore. Fulminant myocarditis was diagnosed and an Abiomed was implanted as an BVAD. Ten days after the first operation the patient was transferred back to Europe by ambulance aircraft with an experienced medical team. Transport to the airport was performed on the Abiomed 5000t console. The transfer from the ambulance into the aircraft (and later out of the aircraft) was performed using a modified hand pump from the BerlinHeart VAD. After the patient was positioned in the aircraft the driving lines were connected to an Abiomed BVS 5000i console, while the 5000t console remained as a backup. The 15.5-hr flight was performed at an altitude of 40,000 feet with cabin pressure equivalent to 8,000 feet; the journey lasted 19 hrs. During the flight the pump flow decreased to 4 l/min with subsequent increases of norepinephrine doses from 0.16 to 0.22 μg/kg BW/min. At sea level the pump flow increased to up to 5 l/min and norepinephrine dosage decreased to 0.16 μg/kg BW/min. The ACT was maintained between 160 and 180 sec. using continuous infusion of heparin. After arrival, the patient underwent a switch to the BerlinHeart extracorporeal BVAD and is now awaiting HTx. The transcontinental transport of a critically ill patient with an Abiomed BVAD can be performed safely.

10.1097/00002480-200303000-00032

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LVAD as a Bridge to Transplantation—Current Status and Future Perspectives

Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine (2024)

Maximilian J. Roesel Gaik Nersesian Sebastian Neuber Henriette Thau Rosalie Wolff von Gudenberg

Heart failure (HF) is a common disease associated with high morbidity and mortality rates despite advanced pharmacological therapies. Heart transplantation remains the gold standard therapy for end-stage heart failure; however, its application is curtailed by the persistent shortage of donor organs. Over the past two decades, mechanical circulatory support, notably Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), have been established as an option for patients waiting for a donor organ. This comprehensive review focuses on elucidating the benefits and barriers associated with this application. We provide an overview of landmark clinical trials that have evaluated the use of LVADs as a bridge to transplantation therapy, with a particular focus on post-transplant outcomes. We discuss the benefits of stabilizing patients with these systems, weighing associated complications and limitations. Further technical advancements and research on optimal implantation timing are critical to ultimately improve outcomes and securing quality of life. In a world where the availability of donor organs remains constrained, LVADs are an increasingly important piece of patient care, bridging the critical gap to transplantation in advanced heart failure management.

Bridge to transplantation

Destination therapy

Economic shortage

Gold standard (test)

10.31083/j.rcm2505176

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Citations (4)

Predictive Model Of The Sustainability Of Favorable Response After LVAD Weaning In HF Patients: A VAD Wean Registry Analysis

Journal of Cardiac Failure (2025)

Eleni Maneta Christos E. Kyriakopoulos Elizabeth Dranow Thomas Hanff Josef Stehlik

10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.10.050

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Influence of Cf-VAD Implantation on the Frailty Status of Advanced Heart Failure Patients

The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon (2022)

Luise Roehrich Simon Suendermann Isabell Anna Just Laurenz Kopp Fernandes Jan Knierim

Background: Frailty is a potential reversible state, which affects the prognosis of advanced heart failure patients. This study aimed to examine the influence of continuous-flow ventricular assist device (cf-VAD) implantation on frailty.

10.1055/s-0042-1742839

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