Houston Methodist first in Texas to implant HeartMate III

Houston Methodist Hospital is the first in Texas to implant the new Thoratec® HeartMate III left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in a 72-year old patient suffering from heart failure. Houston Methodist is one of the center’s taking part in a nationwide trial to test the effectiveness of this new device.

“This new device improves on how blood enters and leaves the pump,” said Dr. Jerry Estep, a cardiologist with Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center. “We believe this will lead to less stress on the blood. It also creates its own pulse at about 30 beats per minute.”

Estep says patients lose their pulse with the current designs. He says patients can live without a pulse with an LVAD, but he believes the lack of one could lead to GI bleeding and stroke seen in some patients.

Dr. Brian Bruckner, a cardiovascular surgeon with Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, performed the procedure. He says this design includes large pump flow gaps, which he hopes will cause less damage to red blood cells and prevent clotting, thrombosis and bleeding. He adds and that it is fully magnetically levitated, meaning parts float rather than rub together. The hope is that this function will also lead to fewer complications and greater durability.