Left Ventricular Assist Device
What is a left ventricular assist device (LVAD)?
The left ventricle is the large, muscular chamber of the
heart that pumps blood out to the body. A left ventricular assist
device (LVAD) is a battery-operated, mechanical pump-type device
that's surgically implanted. It helps maintain the pumping ability
of a heart that can't effectively work on its own.
These devices are becoming very common and are now available
in most heart transplant centers.
When is a LVAD used?
This device is sometimes called a "bridge to transplant."
People awaiting a heart transplant often must wait a long time
before a suitable heart becomes available. During this wait,
the patient's already-weakened heart may deteriorate and become
unable to pump enough blood to sustain life. An LVAD can help
a weak heart and "buy time" for the patient.
How does an LVAD work?
A common type of LVAD has a tube that pulls blood from the
left ventricle into a pump. The pump then sends blood into the
aorta (the large blood vessel leaving the left ventricle). This
effectively helps the weakened ventricle. The pump is placed
in the upper part of the abdomen. Another tube attached to the
pump is brought out of the abdominal wall to the outside of
the body and attached to the pump's battery and control system.
LVADs are now portable and are often used for weeks to months.
Patients with LVADs can be discharged from the hospital and
have an acceptable quality of life while waiting for a donor
heart to become available.
See the
https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
website for more information on:
Congestive Heart Failure
Heart, How It Works
Heart Transplants and Statistics
Open-Heart Surgery Statistics
Organ Donation
|
Patient Forms