The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a device designed to help patients with heart failure. This mechanical pump is implanted inside the chest to help the heart do its job by pumping oxygen-rich blood around the body when needed. In the case of end-stage heart failure, an LVAD can give the patient a new lease of life.
Implanted in the heart by experienced specialists, one end of the LVAD is attached to the left ventricle – the heart chamber in charge of pumping blood around the body, and the other end is attached to the aorta, the main artery in the body. This heart-assist device is then connected via a cable made of special materials to a computer controller and a power pack that remain outside of your body.
Gleneagles Hospital uses the new generation HeartMate II – one of the up-to-date and reliable devices available for the treatment of heart failure today. The HeartMate II is the only heart-assist device approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for both bridge-to-heart transplant and for long-term 'destination' therapy.
While an average healthy adult needs the heart to pump 4 – 5 litres of blood every minute while at rest, this device can pump 6 – 10 litres of blood per minute, providing ample blood flow to allow the patient to perform normal activities of daily living independently.
The main problem with past heart pump designs have been wear and tear, as well as the formation of blood clots within the pump. Not only is HeartMate II smaller and quieter than other LVADs, it is also designed to function for many years with less wear and tear, and with the proper medication, the rate of blood clot formation is reduced.
Patients suffering from end-stage heart failure who are not responding to medications and pacemakers may be advised by specialists to implant an LVAD while awaiting a heart donor. This will keep them alive and maintain the function of the other vital organs such as the kidney and liver during this time, so that the patient will be ready for a heart transplant should a donor heart become available. For those who are not eligible for heart transplant or in urgent or emergency situations where there is no time to wait for a donor, the surgeon may recommend the permanent implantation of an LVAD in the chest to restore normal blood circulation. Blood thinners will also be prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots forming in the pump.
To ensure that the LVAD pump is able to function smoothly in the body together with the other vital organs, patients must meet certain medical criteria before undergoing LVAD implantation, which the cardiologist will establish when they evaluate your condition.