A 31-year-old member asked:
what is the left ventricular assist device?
3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Samuel Hahn answered
Cardiology 28 years experience
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.
6074 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. ALADIN MARIANO answered
Thoracic Surgery 49 years experience
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.
5514 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Vasudev Ananthram answered
Cardiology 32 years experience
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.
5744 viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Aug 29, 2019
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits
$15 per month
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.