A member asked:

What is the left ventricular assist device?

8 doctors weighed in across 3 answers

Booster pump: Instead of a totally artificial heart which replaces the entire heart, an lvad is a much smaller pump that boosts the pumping ability of the left ventricle (the main pumping chamber). This has many technical advantages over a totally artificial heart.

Answered 10/22/2013

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As the name implies: It is a device that assist the lv. It does so by relieving "work" or stress on the lv. The principle is for the blood going to the lv be diverted to a "pump" which then functions as a substitute lv to pump the blood back to circulate. Your natural lv then gets a rest as a substitute pump is doing the "work". The pump can be in or outside your body.

Answered 10/28/2012

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Device, propel blood: It is a device that propels blood thus taking over the function of the weak and failing left lower heart chamber. It is typically implanted in patients with severe class 4 heart failure who would otherwise have little mobility or not survive due to the failing heart.

Answered 10/23/2017

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Related Questions

A member asked:

Is left ventricular assist device considered an artificial heart?

5 doctors weighed in across 3 answers