MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE OF THE FAILING HEART IN THE ELDERLY

Continued success with cardiac transplantation has led to expansion of the donor pool and broadening of recipient criteria. As older patient s are accepted for transplantation, experience with mechanical bridge to transplant in the elderly has expanded. Review of the patient regis tries for three types of ventricular assist device allowed us to asses s experience with these devices in the elderly (that is, aged over 60 years) population. Outcome, in terms of success of bridge to transplan t and post-transplant survival, was excellent when compared with that in the general population, and supports the application of this techno logy to appropriate patients. These observations also support the conc ept of mechanical assistance as an alternative to cardiac transplant i n the elderly.