Advances in mechanical circulatory assist device technology have allowed dozens of patients with different types of devices to live in any community in the United States. Some of the newer devices pump blood continuously, resulting in patients without pulses. The mechanical circulatory assist device teams and emergency medical services providers in the mid-Atlantic region wondered how best to prepare the community to respond appropriately to emergencies in patients with these mechanical devices.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
FrazierOHRoseEAMacmanusQ. Multicenter clinical evaluation of the HeartMate 1000 IP left ventricular assist device. Ann Thorac Surg.1992;53(6):1080–1090.
RoseEAGelijnsACMoskowitzAJ. Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure (REMATCH) Study Group. Long-term mechanical left ventricular assistance for end-stage heart failure. N Engl J Med.2001;345(20):1435–1443.