Left ventricular assist device as a bridge to recovery: present status.

A new application for left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) is as a bridge to recovery. In the settings of myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy, LVAD support is accompanied by marked hemodynamic, neurohormonal, physiologic, cellular, and molecular changes indicative of recovery. Despite these changes, experience with clinical successes is limited. Further studies of topics such as the timing of LVAD implantation and explantation, adjunct medical and surgical therapy, and optimum LVAD weaning protocols might help improve the success of this promising technology.