Researchers in the U.K. are reporting that people waiting for a heart transplant may be able to live happily (or at least healthily) ever after by relying instead on a surgical pump.
The pumps, known as Left Ventricular Assist Devices, are supposed to be temporary, a stop-gap until a donated heart is available. Of course, the hearts don't always show up.
Researchers found that 11 of 15 heart patients did fine after having the pumps installed permanently, and eight were in good shape four years later.
Here's a caveat, courtesy of the BBC:
Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the [British Heart Foundation], explained it could help some who develop severe heart failure as a result of a disease which weakens their heart muscle, but not those with the more common coronary heart disease, which damages the heart as a result of a lack of blood supply.
He added: "The study raises several important questions which will need answering in future clinical studies - we need to know exactly what part of this treatment regimen is responsible for the recovery of heart function, and which patients can benefit from it."
