Artificial Heart Pumps: Bridging the Gap Between science, Technology and Personalized Medicine By Relational Medicine

Abstract

In the US population of 300 million, 3 million have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and 300,000 have advanced heart failure. Long-term mechanical circulatory support will, within the next decade, be recommended to 30,000 patients annually in the USA, 3000 undergo heart transplantation annually. What do these advances mean for persons suffering from advanced heart failure and their loved ones/caregivers? In this perspective article, we discuss – by exemplifying a case report of a 27-year-old man receiving a Total Artificial Heart – a practice concept of modern medicine that fully incorporates the patient’s personhood perspective which we have termed Relational Medicine™. From this case study, it becomes apparent that the successful practice of modern cardiovascular medicine requires the person–person encounter as a core practice element.

KEYWORDS :

• artificial heart pump
• heart transplantation
• high tech medicine
• mechanical circulatory support
• modern medicine
• personhood
• total artificial heart
• ventricular assist device

Acknowledgements

Our patient, GH, described in this manuscript is a role model. He is a role model as a researcher, helping us understand how to incorporate modern medicine such as the Total Artificial Heart into our practice, a role model as a teacher and educator, helping us understand who we are becoming as practitioners of this modern medicine, and, above all, a role model as a human being, helping us understand how to live our lives, as patients, as healthcare professionals – as persons.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.