Cardiac augmentation can help with a weak heart.
Heart disease is a common problem. Cardiac augmentation is a procedure designed to help hearts in a "weakened" state pump. New designs of temporary augmentation have been developed to allow a heart after surgery to heal more quickly by allowing one ventricle to rest.
Reasons for Treatment
There are a number of reasons that cardiac augmentation may be needed. Augmentation is primarily required when the heart has been weakened by disease or some other condition. When the ventricles (the two large, lower chambers of the heart) find it difficult to pump then the heart is considered weak. A heart that has recently undergone surgery may also temporarily require some help to beat regularly.
Cardiac Augmentation
Cardiac augmentation usually refers to procedure to help the heart beat regularly, often during surgery. During one heart augmentation, the heart is surrounded by what is sometimes referred to as a "heart cuff." During this procedure the right and left ventricles are surrounded by two balloons. These balloons then rhythmically inflate and drain, which performs the function of pumping for the heart.
Post-surgery Augmentation
When a weakened heart has undergone surgery, it may need to be augmented with a heart pump. This is a small device which is implanted by being inserted through an artery into the left ventricle. The device pumps for the ventricle, allowing the chamber to rest for a time. A heart pump is usually only left in place for a few days, allowing the weak heart enough time to recover and begin an unassisted regular heart beat.
Heart Pumps
Some heart pumps are used to maintain a regular heart beat and avoid heart failure while a patient waits for a heart transplant. Old examples of heart pumps used moving parts, such as the before-mentioned balloons, to simulate the hearts rhythms. Second generation heart pumps, which are still available, use rotary motors to assist in pumping blood through the body but do not create a pulse. The newest generation of pumps use implanted tubes to bypass the weakened ventricle, using centrifugal force to pump blood.
Considerations
The surgeon will not use a heart cuff during surgery if it would plainly cause complications. Temporary cardiac augmentation using small heart pumps very rarely fail and are designed to assist rather than entirely replace the ventricle. More permanent heart pumps may require regular visits to a doctor to ensure that the implant is not having trouble doing its job. Second generation heart pumps usually only have a lifespan of about ten years. Some third generation heart pumps are used instead of transplants all together, but may still require regular check-ups.
Tags: heart pumps, generation heart, generation heart pumps, heart beat, heart pumps used, pumps used
