What is LVAD and Why is it Required?
Lvad is also known as a left ventricular assist device which is basically placed in the upper part of the heart which is used for patients who suffer from life threatening conditions such as a heart failure and there is no option in order to save their lives. It is surgically implanted by a specialized doctor or cardiologist who is well trained to perform such implantation. The device is battery operated and has a mechanical pump that helps the left ventricle to pump blood so that it can be transported to the rest of the body. It is used majorly in:
Destination therapy which means in some cases where the patient cannot have a heart transplant but still in order to save the life the heart surgeon recommends Lvad which is a longer term treatment that can prolong and improve functioning of the heart and increases their life expectancy.
Bridge to transplant therapy is another treatment that is the life saving therapy for patients who are waiting for heart transplant but in the meantime in order to control and restore the failing heart the doctor requires something that can control its functioning for which Lvad is required. In most cases the results are so good that the patient does not require a heart transplant and is able to function and perform daily activities without any problem.
How does it work?
The doctor recommends LVAD procedure based on the condition of the patient and medical requirement of the hour. LVAD is implanted during an open heart surgery so that the heart can properly supply or transport oxygen to the rest of the body. The pump is placed in the chest on the top of the heart where it receives the blood.
A tube a tube which is connected to the device takes the blood from the device and then delivers it to aorta so that it can transport a blood to the rest of the body.
Blood continuously flows from the left ventricle and is thus transported to the device to aorta for transportation of blood.
The pump is attached to a cable along with a control system that helps in pumping the blood and provides all the requirements that are needed in order to operate the system. For that, it requires a continuous power supply so that the device can work properly without fail.
Risks:
LVAD just like other procedures have certain risk associated with it, some of which might include:
● Infection
● Excessive Bleeding during the procedure
● Faulty device
● Power failure of the device
● Right heart failure
● Stroke
● Blood clots
● Heart failure
● Respiratory failure
● Kidney failure
● Internal bleeding
Rukmani Birla Hospital is one of the top cardiac hospitals in Jaipur that has few of the best lvad surgery specialists in Jaipur. The state of art technology and availability of advanced medical procedures help in providing the best results. RBH is also famous for being one of the best TAVI surgery hospitals in Jaipur. If you have any kind of heart related issue then contact RBH for expert assistance and care.
