Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
Procedure:
The 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. 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.
Major Indications:
- “bridge to transplant,” but is now used in long-term therapy.
- Stage D and class IV heart failure.
- Most recently, LVADs are being used longer-term as destination therapy in end-stage heart failure patients when heart transplantation is not an option.
