Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)

This channel includes news and new technology innovations for ventricular assist devices (VAD). VADs are a type of mechanical hemodynamic support device that helps increase blood flow in people who have ventricles that are not work properly due to heart failure, cardiogenic shock, cardiomyopathy or myocardial infarction. Most often these devices support the left ventricle, so they are often referred to as left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). VADS come in two types, surgically implanted, usually as a bridge to heart transplant, and percutanenous catheter-based pumps used for temporary hemodynamic support. Examples of temporary percutaneous pumps include the Impella and TandemHeart devices.