Current status of research on the left ventricular assist device in Beijing, China.

Our 3-year experience with the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) research in Beijing, China, is based on experimental studies in both sheep and goats. Although testing is still in the preliminary stages, the LVAD has been implanted in seven animals, and results have been encouraging. Our most recent animal model (a goat) survived 11 days and 23 hours before succumbing to a renal embolism. The efforts described here provide a firm basis for the future of partial and total artificial heart research in our institutions.