Drexel Cardiology maintains an active left ventricular assist device (LVAD) program that helps heart failure patients enjoy improved longevity and quality of life.
The heart is divided into four separate chambers, each with a different function. The left lower section, called the left ventricle, pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. When the heart is too weak to pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the body's needs, the use of a mechanical device to assist the heart may be recommended. These instruments, known as left ventricular assist devices or LVADs, are implanted into the chest via open-heart surgery. They can restore normal blood circulation and relieve the extreme fatigue and shortness of breath patients with severe heart failure typically experience. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) take over some or all of the left ventricle's pumping action, decreasing the heart's workload. In some instances, the rest that left ventricular assist device (LVADs) provide has actually improved the function of the heart over time, enabling it to gain strength.
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) can be used as an alternative to heart transplantation in patients who are not eligible for transplantation or who wish to avoid it. Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology is reserved for use in those with severely weakened hearts. Typically, these are patients who require hospitalization and are not sufficiently helped by medications. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) should not be used in those with blood clotting disorders, severe, antibiotic-resistant infections, or significant disease of the lung, liver or kidney.
Components of a Left Ventricular Assist Device
An left ventricular assist device (LVAD) consists of:
- A small pump unit, approximately the size of a D battery.
- A tube that is attached to the bottom of the heart's left ventricle.
- An outflow tube attached to the aorta. This is the large artery that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart and out to the body.
- Leads that extend from the unit, through the skin and to the outside of the body.
- A battery pack that attaches to the leads. Batteries are rechargeable and changed daily. The battery pack can be worn around the waist or under the arm. It can also be plugged into an electrical outlet.
Patients who have left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) can return home and enjoy mobility for periods of five to six hours at a time. Before hospital discharge, patients participate in a comprehensive education program that teaches them and their family members how to use the system safely and respond to emergency situations. They also receive specific instructions regarding activity, medications, diet, and emergency care indications.
Related Programs and Services
Heart Failure/Transplant Program
The information on these pages is provided for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a physician or healthcare professional. If you have specific questions or concerns about your health, you should consult your healthcare provider.
To make an appointment, call 215-561-HEART (4327).
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