The Berlin heart is an example of a ____________ device.

The Berlin Heart is a well-known example of a paracorporeal device. Paracorporeal devices are designed to be placed outside of the body but are connected to internal circulatory structures. In the case of the Berlin Heart, it functions as a ventricular assist device (VAD) that supports patients with severe heart failure by helping to pump blood from the heart to the rest of the body, while being situated outside the patient.

The design of paracorporeal devices typically allows for easier implantation and may provide advantages in terms of maintenance and can be suitable for use as a bridge to transplant or recovery, as in the case of patients awaiting heart transplants. The use of this type of device underscores the importance of supporting cardiac function while maintaining a connection to the circulatory system, thereby enhancing patient management options in critical care settings.

In contrast, other types of devices such as intracorporeal are implanted entirely within the body and do not have external components. Extracorporeal devices, like some heart-lung machines, are used temporarily outside the body but in a different context, primarily during procedures like open-heart surgery. Perioperative refers to the period surrounding a surgical procedure, rather than a type of device