First in Korea to Successfully Perform 200 Cases of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Surgery

For the first time in Korea, Samsung Medical Center has surpassed 200 Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) surgeries. Since October 2018, LVADs, commonly known as artificial hearts, have been covered by health insurance, resulting in an increase in surgeries performed at hospitals nationwide. These devices provide critical support for patients facing end-stage heart failure, particularly when waiting for a heart transplant is not feasible or when transplantation is not an option. The number of patients in need of heart transplants has risen, but the availability of brain-dead donors has decreased due to the effects of low birth rates and an aging population. Consequently, the importance of Left Ventricular Assist Devices has grown significantly. As of December 2024, an analysis of 202 LVAD surgeries at Samsung Medical Center showed a survival discharge rate of 95% and a 3-year survival rate of 80%, which is comparable to the survival rates following heart transplantation.

To support this progress, the Acute Heart Failure Team at Samsung Medical Center’s Heart Vascular Stroke Institute runs an Artificial Heart Clinic, focused in offering multidisciplinary care. The milestone of 200 surgeries marks a significant turning point, with plans to establish a more systematic and advanced system throughout the entire treatment process.