Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) - It's purpose and impact

Have you ever thought about what doctors can do when someone’s heart becomes too weak to keep blood flowing through the body? For people with advanced heart failure, there is a device called a Left Ventricular Assist Device, or LVAD which can be a life-saving option. A LVAD is a small mechanical pump that helps the left ventricle which is the heart’s main pumping chamber move blood to the rest of the body. It helps ease symptoms like shortness of breath and tiredness, giving patients a better quality of life when medicine is no longer enough.

An LVAD is not the same as an artificial heart, it doesn’t completely replace the heart’s function. Instead, it works with the heart to help it pump blood more effectively. The device is implanted in the chest and connected to the left ventricle and the aorta, which is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body. A small cable connects the internal pump to a controller and batteries that stay outside the body. The LVAD pulls blood from the left ventricle and pushes it into the aorta so oxygen-rich blood can reach the rest of the body.

Doctors use LVADs for a lot of reasons. One common reason is  for aid or function before a transplant.  This means that the LVAD helps patients survive and stay active while they wait for a heart transplant. Once a donor heart becomes available, the LVAD is removed. For people who cannot have a transplant because of age or other health problems, the LVAD can serve as long-term treatment, which is called destination therapy. In some cases, doctors use the LVAD temporarily to allow the heart to recover or to make the patient healthy enough for a future transplant.

The LVAD can greatly improve a patient’s daily life. Many people who receive one feel less tired and find it easier to breathe and do daily tasks. There are newer models called continuous-flow LVADs  which have also helped patients live longer, even if they cannot get a heart transplant. However, getting an LVAD involves major surgery and ongoing care. There are many risks such as infection, bleeding, stroke, or device problems. Meaning that the patients must take care of the device every day and need regular checkups and support from caregivers.

Overall, LVADs have changed the way doctors treat advanced heart failure. They help people live longer and feel better when other treatments no longer work. Whether used while waiting for a transplant, to help recovery, or as a long-term treatment, LVADs give hope and a better quality of life to patients with severe heart disease.

Written by Anonymous at Incisionary

References

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“Left Ventricular Assist Devices (Mechanical Circulatory Support).” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17192-left-ventricular-assist-devices-mechanical-circulatory-support-mcs.

“Left Ventricular Assist Devices.” British Heart Foundation – Heart Matters Magazine, https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/lvads.

“The Past, Present and Future of the Device Keeping Alive Thousands of HF Patients.” American Heart Association News, 13 June 2018, https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/06/13/the-past-present-and-future-of-the-device-keeping-alive-carew-thousands-of-hf-patients.

“Ventricular Assist Device.” University of Ottawa Heart Institute, https://www.ottawaheart.ca/test-procedure/ventricular-assist-device.

“Ventricular Assist Devices.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22600-ventricular-assist-devices.

“Ventricular Assist Device (VAD).” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ventricular-assist-device/about/pac-20384529.

“Ventricular Assist Device.” National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Bookshelf, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499841/.

Zayat, R., et al. “Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy: A Comprehensive Review.” PubMed Central (PMC), 2021, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8311694/