Artificial Heart/ Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)
Feature Summary
Artificial heart is the last tool to treat end stage heart failure and provide better life quality
Overview
Heart failure is a complex disease that results from structural or functional impairment of ventricular filling or ejection of blood. The disease significantly decreased health-related quality of life, especially physician functioning and vitality. A subset of patients will progress to “end-stage heart failure” , who might be eligible for advanced therapies, such as mechanical circulatory support, continuous inotropes infusion, or heart transplantation.
There are three main purposes of artificial heart, ventricular assisted device:
1.Permanent supportive treatment ( for elderly patients who are not suitable toundergo heart transplant )
2.Adjunctive therapy as a bridge to heart transplant
3.Helping the recovery of heart and when it is recovered, artificial heart can be removed and patients
can live a normal life
Features
Artificial heart, or also known left ventricular assist device (VAD) is used as a bridge to transplant, as destination therapy, or as a bridge to recovery. It can improve survival and quality of life in patients with end stage heart failure. Our team had experienced surgeons for left ventricular assist device and heart transplantation both in adults and children. Here is the referral center of VAD in Asia. We also had experience of pump explanation, pump exchange, and transcatheter aortic valve implantation for pump-related aortic regurgitation.
As one of the best hospitals in Taiwan, Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TPEVGH) has almost 30 years of artificial heart experiences. Here are some of our heart failure treatment milestones:
1.First implantation of HeartMate I in Asia in 1996
2.First Novacor artificial heart implantation in Taiwan
3.First VADs in Taiwan including Medos, CentriMag, Berlin Heart and Impella
4.First HeartWare BiVAD in Asia
5.First artificial heart implantation in pediatrics in Asia in 2007 followed by successful heart transplant in the same year. Until now, TPEVGH is still the only hospital in Taiwan to have this achievement.
6.The only hospital with pump exchange experience of HeartMate in Taiwan
7.The only hospital in Taiwan to recover heart function after artificial heart treatmentand remove artificial heart successfully afterwards
8.The success rate for artificial heart implantation surgery over the last 25 years is 100%
9.Became Asia’s referral center for artificial heart implantation in 2019
10.Gave guidance and support in many countries, regarding adult and pediatric artificial heart implantation
Fig. VADs for adults & children
Berlin Heart
HeartMate 3
We are very happy to provide relative consultation and suggestion. Patients’ quality of life and safety is always our first priority.
Estimated Cost
For estimated medical costs, please contact International Medical Services Center.