Ventricular Assist Devices: Advanced Heart Failure Treatment Options

What are ventricular assist devices?

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are mechanical pumps that help the heart pump blood. They are used to treat advanced stage heart failure, a condition in which the heart is too weak to pump enough blood on its own.

Ventricular Assist Devices in Advanced-Stage Heart Failure

by Raphaël Guillard

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3961 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	280 pages

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VADs are surgically implanted into the chest. They are connected to the heart's left or right ventricle, and they help to pump blood out of the heart and into the body.

Types of ventricular assist devices

There are two main types of VADs:

• LVADs (left ventricular assist devices) are used to help the left ventricle pump blood. LVADs are the most common type of VAD.
• RVADs (right ventricular assist devices) are used to help the right ventricle pump blood. RVADs are less common than LVADs.

Who is a candidate for a ventricular assist device?

VADs are typically used to treat patients with advanced stage heart failure who are not candidates for heart transplantation. Patients who may be candidates for a VAD include those who have:

• Severe heart failure that is not responding to medical therapy
• A heart attack that has caused severe damage to the heart
• A congenital heart defect that has caused the heart to fail

Benefits of ventricular assist devices

VADs can provide a number of benefits for patients with advanced stage heart failure, including:

• Improved quality of life
• Increased exercise tolerance
• Reduced risk of death

Risks of ventricular assist devices

VADs are major surgery, and they carry a number of risks, including:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Stroke
• Kidney failure
• Death

Alternatives to ventricular assist devices

There are a number of alternative treatments for advanced stage heart failure, including:

• Heart transplantation
• Medical therapy
• Pacemakers
• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)

VADs are a life-saving treatment for patients with advanced stage heart failure. They can provide a number of benefits, including improved quality of life, increased exercise tolerance, and reduced risk of death. However, VADs are also major surgery, and they carry a number of risks. Patients who are considering VAD therapy should carefully weigh the benefits and risks before making a decision.

Ventricular Assist Devices in Advanced-Stage Heart Failure

by Raphaël Guillard

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3961 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	280 pages

FREE