A 32-year-old member asked:
what is the use of a left ventricular assist device (lvad)?
3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Shahin Tavackoli answered
Cardiology 23 years experience
Advanced CHF: Typically and lvad has been used in the setting of a patient with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF) where the patient is being listed for or is awaiting a heart transplantation. More recently, lvad's have been approved as destination therapy. On occasion we see patients who recover from their CHF through the use of an lvad, but that is not very common. There are multiple lvad types now.
6242 viewsReviewed Mar 1, 2019
Dr. Liviu Klein answered
Cardiology 23 years experience
End stage heart fail: Lvads are used for end stage heart failure either as bridge to transplant or as destination therapy for those who are not candidates for transplantation.
6004 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Vasudev Ananthram answered
Cardiology 32 years experience
Heart pumps: Lvad (left ventricle assist device) are implanted pumps powered by an external battery that assist the left side of the heart to pump blood. It is implanted in patients with severe heart failure in whom medications alone are not enough ( such as our former vp dick cheney).
6002 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 48-year-old member asked:
Which is the average life expectancy after having a left ventricular assist device, or lvad installed?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Venkata Chilakapati answered
Cardiology 23 years experience
LVAD: Nowadays, 80–85% of patients are alive a year after having an lvad fitted and 70–75% after two years. This is fantastic considering that many of them would only have had a life expectancy of 12 months or less before their lvad treatment. One patient whom i know lived for 5.5 yrs (destination therapy).
4630 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Jan 24, 2021
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