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Heart Pump Failure

Heart pumps are devices that prolong the life of individuals suffering from advanced heart failure. However, the pumps themselves have been known to fail, requiring diligence from patients, especially as it concerns power to the device.

  1. Identification

    • Heart pumps, also known as left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), are implanted inside the body and take over the heart's responsibility of moving blood throughout the circulatory system. An external battery pack powers the system. Failure of this device--or the battery pack itself--could be catastrophic and potentially fatal.

    Types

    • A pump known as the HeartMate XVE typically lasts 18 months, while a newer device, the HeartMate II, is billed as being more comfortable and durable--a huge plus for patients worried about heart pump failure. However, the manufacturer of both devices, the Thoratec Corporation, issued a warning concerning heart pump failure in 2008. Thoratec began a worldwide medical-device correction of certain batches of the pump.

    Considerations

    • Patients who are careless when it comes to monitoring the strength of their device's batteries may also face heart pump failure. The Heart Mate II pump operates on a 14 volt Li-ion battery that weighs approximately 1 lb. and lasts up to 10 hours on one charge, requiring patients to properly gauge charge intervals.

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