The immediate benefit of a VAD is that it may save a patient's life. VADs have shown improvements in both ejection fraction and dilated cardiomyopathy in some patients. Researchers are not sure precisely how this occurs, but recovery may be rooted in a theory put forth by heart specialists almost 60 years ago: that the weakened heart needs rest. As a result, patients may find that symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue are relieved. Moreover, a small number of heart transplant candidates who have had a VAD over a period of months while waiting for a donor heart have had such dramatic improvement in their own heart function that they no longer needed the VAD or a heart transplant.

However, VAD use does carry risks, such as:

Patients are urged to discuss any questions they may have about these devices with their cardiologist. In the meantime, these devices continue to evolve.