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The artificial heart programme is currently the biggest of its kind in this country and is being used as a bridge to transplantation as part of the national Department of Health-supported programme. Considerable experience in the use of implantable (pneumatic and electric pusher plate, and more recently impeller) pumps has been gained. In addition, the use of paracorporeal (non-implantable) devices has been established for shorter term support.
An important and unique feature of our programme is the development of a combination of
left ventricular assist device
(LVAD) support with pharmacological therapy to induce recovery. Using this approach, improvement in heart function has allowed the explantation of the artificial heart in a significant number of patients in a process of "bridge to recovery".
A further feature of our study is an extensive and multidisciplinary research programme aimed at in-depth evaluation of changes in both myocardium and serum at cellular, molecular and functional levels in these patients. This encompasses both clinical and basic science research and involves major contributions by several groups in areas including cell electrophysiology ( Cesare Terracciano), gene expression ( Paul Barton), gene regulation ( Nigel Brand) and metabolic function ( Tom Smolenski) in both heart failure and in recovery following LVAD support. Recent publications
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