Ventricular
Assist Device (VAD): |
On this page: |
What is a ventricular
assist device - When is it used
- How does it work - What
will it accomplish - What are the
risks - When should it not be used
- Recently approved VADs - Search
all VADs - Links |
|
What
is it? |
A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a
mechanical pump that helps a heart that is too weak to pump
blood through the body. It is sometimes referred to as “a
bridge to transplant” since it can help a patient survive
until a heart transplant can be performed. |
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When
is
it used? |
A VAD is used to aid the pumping
action of a weakened heart ventricle (a major pumping chamber
of the heart).
VADs were originally intended for short-term use to support
failing hearts until donor hearts became available.
Some VADs are now used for long-term (destination) therapy
in severe heart failure patients who are not candidates for
heart transplants. |
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How
does
it work? |
A VAD does not replace the
heart. Instead, it works with the patient’s own heart
to pump sufficient blood throughout the body.
The VAD consists of a pump, a control system, and an energy
supply. Some VADs rely on a battery for their energy supply;
others use compressed air (pneumatic). The energy supply and
the control system are located outside the body; the pump
can be either inside or outside the body.
In a VAD, blood flows from the ventricles into a pump. A
left ventricular assist device (LVAD) receives blood from
the left ventricle and delivers it to the aorta -- the large
artery that carries the blood from the heart to the rest of
the body. A right ventricular assist device (RVAD) receives
blood from the right ventricle and delivers it to the pulmonary
artery – the artery that carries blood from the heart
to the lungs. |
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What
will it accomplish? |
A VAD will partially relieve the
symptoms of severe heart failure, such as breathlessness and
fatigue. The VAD will “buy time” for a
patient needing a heart transplant or nearing the end of life.
Since many VADs are portable, patients can live at home and
resume some activities while waiting for a heart transplant.
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What
are
the risks? |
VAD implant surgery carries
risks of severe complications. Potential complications include
bleeding, development of blood clots, respiratory failure,
kidney failure, infection, stroke, and device failure.
Your doctor will tell you more about the risks associated
with ventricular assist devices. |
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When
should
it not be used? |
A VAD should be used only in
patients who are eligible for heart transplants or who have
severe end-stage congestive heart failure and are not candidates
for heart transplants.
Some VADs cannot be used with very short or very thin patients
who have low body surface areas.
Poor candidates for VADs include people with:
- Irreversible kidney failure
- Severe liver disease
- Blood clotting disorders
- Severe lung disease
- Infections that do not respond to antibiotics
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Recently
approved VADs: |
Find
information about specific ventricular assist devices from
FDA's Recently Approved Devices listings. |
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Search
all VADs: |
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to Top |
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Links:
|
- LVAD
MedlinePlus Health Information
http://search.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/query?MAX=500&SERVER1=server1&SERVER2=server2&
PARAMETER=LVAD&DISAMBIGUATION=true&FUNCTION=search&x=37&y=11
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