What are the indications for LVAD?
A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is implanted in the chest. It helps pump blood from the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) to the rest of the body. A control unit and battery pack are worn outside the body and are connected to the LVAD through a small opening (port) in the skin. Show
A ventricular assist device (VAD) — also known as a mechanical circulatory support device — is a device that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (ventricles) to the rest of your body. You may need surgery to implant a VAD while you wait for a heart transplant or to permanently help your heart produce enough blood flow. Although a VAD can be placed (implanted) in one or both ventricles of your heart, it is most frequently implanted in the left ventricle. When placed in the left ventricle, it's called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Current LVADs provide a constant flow of blood from your heart to your body. Such LVADs are called continuous flow devices. The procedure to implant a VAD often requires open-heart surgery and has serious risks. However, a VAD can be lifesaving if you have severe heart failure. Ventricular assist device (VAD) OverviewProducts & Services
Why it's doneYour doctor may recommend that you get a VAD if:
To decide if a VAD is the right treatment for your condition, and to select which device is best for you, your doctor will consider:
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic RisksPossible risks and complications associated with implanting and using a ventricular assist device (VAD) include:
How you prepareBefore you get a ventricular assist device (VAD) implanted, your doctor and treatment team will:
You can prepare for VAD surgery by talking to your family about your upcoming hospital stay and the type of help you'll need at home as you recover. Food and medicationsYou'll need to stop eating or drinking for several hours before surgery. Your treatment team will tell you the specific time to do this. Your doctor or nurse will review your current medications and tell you which, if any, you can take on the day of your VAD surgery. It's helpful if you make a list of all the medications you take and bring it with you to the hospital. Your treatment team will also note if you have any drug allergies. Clothing and personal itemsIn addition to a list of your medications, your treatment team may ask that you bring several other items to the hospital, including:
You'll likely be asked to avoid wearing:
What you can expectBefore the procedureIf you're getting a VAD, you'll need surgery to implant the device. You'll usually be admitted to the hospital a few days before the surgery so tests can be done to make sure a VAD is still your best treatment option. Tests done before VAD implantation may include:
A ventricular assist device (VAD) coordinator discusses a ventricular assist device with a person. Note: This content was created prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and does not demonstrate proper pandemic protocols. Please follow all recommended Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for masking and social distancing. While you're in the hospital preparing for VAD surgery, you may have other treatments for your weakened heart or heart failure. Before the your procedure, a nurse or technician will shave any hair on your chest where the surgery will take place. During the procedureA team of doctors and nurses works together to perform VAD surgery. Members of this team will include:
Getting a ventricular assist device (VAD) often requires open-heart surgery. VAD surgery usually takes three or more hours. You can expect the following:
To implant an LVAD, the surgeon makes an incision down the center of the chest. The surgeon then separates the chest bone (sternum) to better view the heart and place the device. An LVAD has several parts. The main pump is inserted into the tip of the heart. The blood is pumped out through a flexible plastic tube to the body's main artery (aorta). The aorta sends blood to the rest of the body. A cord inserted through the skin connects the mechanical pump to a control unit (controller) and battery pack outside your body. After your VAD is implanted and working properly, you'll be taken off the heart-lung bypass machine so your VAD can start pumping blood. After the procedureAfter surgery to implant a VAD, you'll stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) so your treatment team can adjust heart treatments, as needed, and monitor you for complications. While in the ICU, you'll have or receive:
Your lungs may not work properly immediately after your surgery, so you may need to remain on a breathing machine (ventilator) for a few days until you can breathe on your own. After a number of days in the ICU, you'll likely be moved to a regular hospital room. How long you stay in the hospital depends on your health before the procedure and how quickly you recover afterward. Before you go home, your nurses, physical therapist and other medical specialists will help you become more active and stronger. They'll help you sit up, get out of bed and walk. If you need more time to recover your strength, your doctor may recommend a short stay at a rehabilitation facility. After VAD surgery, your doctor or nurse will talk to you and your family about how to live with and properly care for a VAD. You and your family will learn:
ResultsYou'll likely have weekly checkups with your doctor for the first month after getting your VAD to make sure it's working properly and to check for complications. Your doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope and check your blood pressure. You may need special tests to check your blood pressure and heartbeat. As you recover from surgery, you'll generally need fewer follow-up appointments. Your doctor will prescribe a blood-thinning medication such as warfarin (Jantoven) to help prevent blood clots. You'll need regular blood tests to monitor the drug's effects. Cardiac rehabilitationAfter getting a VAD, your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation is a personalized exercise and education program that teaches you ways to improve your heart health after heart surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation helps you add healthy lifestyle changes — such as exercise, a heart-healthy diet and stress management — into your life. VADs and heart transplantsIf you have a VAD implanted to help your heart pump blood while you wait for a heart transplant, you'll remain in close contact with your doctor and transplant center while you're on the waiting list. It's likely that you'll have some restrictions on how far away you should be from the hospital in case a donor heart becomes available. Coping and supportIf you're feeling anxious or frustrated about living with a VAD, consider sharing your thoughts and feelings with your doctors, family or professional counselor. Some people also find it helpful to join a support group with others who are going through or have gone through similar experiences. A support group gives you the opportunity to talk about personal experiences and feelings and coping strategies. Clinical trialsExplore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. By Mayo Clinic Staff Ventricular assist device care at Mayo Clinic Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Doctors & Departments May 11, 2022 Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references
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Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has been recognized as one of the top Cardiology & Heart Surgery hospitals in the nation for 2022-2023 by U.S. News & World Report.Learn more about this top honorVentricular assist device (VAD)
AdvertisementMayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. When does a patient need a LVAD?In the event that someone has severe heart failure, the heart is too weak to pump enough blood around the body. Some patients being considered for a heart transplant may need to have an LVAD implanted if they are unlikely to survive until a suitable donor heart becomes available.
What are the basic indications for implanting a left ventricular assist device quizlet?What are the indications for a LVAD? (. Severe heart failure (stage 4). Cardiogenic shock.. NYHA Class IV with EF < 25%. What is the leading cause of death for LVAD patients?Neurologic events remain one of the most dreaded complications of LVAD support and are most often the primary cause of death [14].
Can LVAD be used in right heart failure?Patients with heart failure, who are candidates for LVAD implantation, may demonstrate a broad clinical spectrum of preoperative right ventricle (RV) dysfunction, from being relatively asymptomatic to developing fulminant right ventricular failure (RVF).
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