Ugeskrift for laeger
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Jun 2000
Review[Circulatory support with the mechanical heart, "HeartMate"].
Treatment with the mechanical heart, HeartMate, has been introduced in Denmark. Short-term circulatory support can be obtained by intraaortic balloon counterpulsation, an external centrifugal pump and the total artificial heart. Long-term circulatory support can be established by treatment with the HeartMate. ⋯ The patient's own heart improved during the treatment and the native heart functioned again after the system was explanted. The main complications during treatment are bleeding, infection, thromboembolic events and systemic failure. Permanent, fully implantable mechanical circulatory pumps are under development--which may herald the beginning of a whole new era for treatment of cardiac failure.
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The overall risk of premature death in patients with epilepsy is two to three times that of the general population. The mortality risk is highest in patients with symptomatic epilepsy, but the mortality rate is also increased in patients with idiopathic epilepsy, indicating that epilepsy itself carries an increased risk of premature death. Cerebrovascular disease and primary brain tumours are common causes of death in patients with symptomatic epilepsy, while sudden unexplained death (SUDEP), accidents, suicide and status epilepticus are important causes of epilepsy related deaths. Prevention of accidents and suicide in patients with epilepsy and further knowledge on SUDEP is essential in order to reduce the mortality rate of epilepsy.