Health Issue: Mechanical Heart pumps

Mechanical hear pumps

may save lives

Washington, DC: Scientists at the University of Gotherburg, Sweden, suggest that some patients with life-threatening heart failure can be helped by mechanical heart pumps.

         A total of 99 patients with life-threatening heart failure were treated with a heart pump for short or long-term circulatory support. "Two-thirds of these patients survived." said Hans Liden, researcher at Sahigrenska Academy and thoracic surgeon at Sahigrenska University Hospital.

         "A total of around 300 patients have been treated with heart pumps at the hospital over the years -- and with good results," Liden added. Heart pumps for short-term support are used mainly for young and middle-aged patients with acute problems, such as heart attacks.

           Heart pumps for long-term support aqre normally used for patients with chronic heart failure who are so ill that they are not expected to survive the wait or the operation for a new heart. "In the group given short-term support, around half the patients recovered sufficient heart function to be able to return home," said Liden.