Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, such as the total artificial heart and ventricular assist devices, are employed as bridge-to-transplant or destination therapies for advanced heart failure.[1] Recipients of these life-saving MCS devices have to endure life-long antiplatelet regimens to counteract thromboembolic events resulting from exposure of platelets to high shear stress. Often, large animal models, i.e. bovine and ovine, have been utilized to evaluate the performance and blood compatibility of these cardiovascular devices. Therefore, understanding and correlating the interspecies differences of platelet reactivity is crucial in optimizing the design of MCS devices.

Volume Subject Area:
Atherosclerosis
Topics:
Platelets, Shear stress, Artificial hearts, Blood, Bridges (Structures), Cardiovascular devices, Design, Heart failure, Patient treatment, Ventricular assist devices
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