It is very rare for me to see this device in Malaysia. In Japan I saw it every now and then during my attachment in Osaka.
The machine takes over the work of the left ventricle and pumps it to the aorta.
The gentleman was one of the first (and few) Malaysians who got to use this device while waiting for transplant. He brings with him a few spare batteries. Each battery can last 3 hours. If he is at home or sleeping however, the machine could be connected to electric socket.
If you do echo, you can see a 'stream' of blood flow going out of the ventricle.
How much it costs? RM500,000.
He is on warfarin and needs to keep his INR between 2-3. Interestingly, he does the test himself and adjusts the dosage himself. He has a point-of-care machine to check his own INR !
Amazingly, this gentleman has been on this device fro the past 11 years and even able to work too!
#alzasharing
Note : got permission from patient to use the photos for educational purpose