What is the use of a left ventricular assist device (lvad)?

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.

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.

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).