Mechanical circulatory support with the Novacor LVAS: world-wide clinical results.

The Novacor left-ventricular assist system (LVAS) is an implantable, electrically powered device that is presently approved both in Europe and in the United States for temporary use as a bridge to cardiac transplantation in patients with advanced heart failure. The device has undergone significant evolution since its first implantation in 1984. This device provides a safe, and effective "bridge" to transplantation in select candidates. The world-wide experience as well as the experience at the University of Pittsburgh Health System with this device are discussed in this paper. The exciting results provide ample evidence for the potential use of this device as an "alternative" to transplantation, or "alternative" to medical therapy in the near future.