In February, we marked 30 years since the first left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was implanted in a patient at Harefield Hospital.
LVADs are used to treat people with severe heart failure by restoring normal blood flow to the organ. They’re often given to people on the waiting list for a heart transplant to help manage their condition until a suitable donor heart becomes available.
Since 1995, a total of 554 patients at Harefield have undergone LVAD therapy. Improvements in the technology have resulted in a progressive reduction in complication rates and better outcomes for patients.
Artificial heart specialist, Dr Chris Bowles, has been associated with the Harefield LVAD programme since the start. He said: “I have had the privilege of witnessing the extraordinary development of mechanical circulatory support over a three-decade period. It has been an honour to care for patients who, faced with a life-limiting condition, put their trust in our team and the evolving technology”.