New LVAD device outperforms older model
A new left ventricular assist device (LVAD) by Thoratec may be a good option for cardiologists to begin using on their patients as new research shows it is outperforming older models.
In a study examining the effectiveness of the LVAD, researchers compared the new model, HeartMate 3, to an older model, and found that patients fared better on the new one. The study was published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The trial included 294 patients who received the device either permanently or temporarily as they waited for a transplant, according to the study. After six months, 86 percent of the patients with the newer HeartMate model didn’t experience the device malfunction or cause a stroke, while only 77 percent of patients with the HeartMate II saw the same results.
The results surprised researchers who were only expecting the device to perform as well, not better, than the HeartMate II.
“We were surprised with the findings,” said Mandeep R. Mehra, MD, the lead author on the study and the medical director of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Heart and Vascular Center in Boston. “Given what I’ve seen, if I were to need an LVAD today, I would want the HeartMate 3.”
The HeartMate3 is superior to the older version because it was designed specifically to reduce common LVAD complications, like friction from moving parts that can damage blood cells and cause clots.
The researchers will continue to follow patients for up to two years in addition to another 700 patients who have enrolled, the authors wrote in the study.
The device is only approved in Europe right now, but Thoratec is working on applying for Food and Drug Administration approval.
Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Katherine primarily focuses on producing news stories, Q&As and features for Cardiovascular Business. She reports on several facets of the cardiology industry, including emerging technology, new clinical trials and findings, and quality initiatives among providers. She is based out of TriMed's Chicago office and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in Modern Healthcare, Crain's Chicago Business and The Detroit News. She joined TriMed in 2016.