HeartMate left ventricular assist system exchange: results and technical considerations.

The duration times of left ventricular assist system (LVAS) support have increased because of prolonged wait times for transplant and the more frequent use of devices for destination therapy. The HeartMate LVAS, the only device approved for bridge to transplant and destination therapy, has limited durability, making replacement increasingly necessary. Since 1996, we have exchanged 19 left ventricular assist devices in 15 patients (11 men: mean age, 57.