Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Candidates

Candidates for a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) have advanced heart failure in which the left ventricle can no longer pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body, despite maximal medical therapy. These patients often develop fatigue, dyspnea, poor exercise tolerance, and hospitalizations with exacerbations of heart failure symptoms. An LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) is a mechanical pump that helps a failing left ventricle pump more blood to the body.

The selection of candidates for LVAD implantation A multidisciplinary heart failure team carefully selects candidates for LVAD implantation. Carefully by a multidisciplinary heart failure team. The evaluation also involves cardiac function, renal and hepatic function, pulmonary state, nutritional status, and the patient’s ability to care for the device long-term. LVAD therapy may be used as a bridge to heart transplantation to stabilize patients while waiting for a donor heart. It can also be used as destination therapy in patients who are not candidates for transplantation but require permanent circulatory support.

Suitable candidates will have sufficient right heart function, no uncontrolled infections, and be able to attend frequent follow-up care. LVAD installation is associated with risks of bleeding, infection, stroke, and blood clot formation, yet successful therapy and continuous medical management can lead to improved survival, increased activity levels, improved quality of life, and increased independence in many patients.