TY - JOUR
T1 - How to diagnose and manage emergency medical conditions in patients on left ventricular assist device support
T2 - A clinician's field guide
AU - Guglin, Maya
AU - Hirsch, Joshua R.
AU - Tanawuttiwat, Tanyanan
AU - Akhtar, Naveed
AU - Silvestry, Scott
AU - Ilonze, Onyedika J.
AU - Gehring, R. Michelle
AU - Birks, Emma J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024
PY - 2025/4
Y1 - 2025/4
N2 - Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have revolutionized the treatment of advanced heart failure, providing mechanical circulatory support for patients awaiting heart transplantation or as destination therapy. However, patients on LVAD support are susceptible to a range of emergency medical conditions that require prompt recognition, intervention, and multidisciplinary management. This review paper aims to provide an algorithmic approach and a field guide on the diagnosis and management of emergency medical conditions in LVAD patients, including LVAD alarms, gastrointestinal bleeding, cerebrovascular accidents, pump thrombosis and obstruction, unresponsiveness, and electrical shock by the defibrillator. By understanding the mechanisms, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and therapeutic strategies associated with these conditions, healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes and optimize LVAD care.
AB - Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have revolutionized the treatment of advanced heart failure, providing mechanical circulatory support for patients awaiting heart transplantation or as destination therapy. However, patients on LVAD support are susceptible to a range of emergency medical conditions that require prompt recognition, intervention, and multidisciplinary management. This review paper aims to provide an algorithmic approach and a field guide on the diagnosis and management of emergency medical conditions in LVAD patients, including LVAD alarms, gastrointestinal bleeding, cerebrovascular accidents, pump thrombosis and obstruction, unresponsiveness, and electrical shock by the defibrillator. By understanding the mechanisms, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and therapeutic strategies associated with these conditions, healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes and optimize LVAD care.
KW - Emergency
KW - Left ventricular assist device
KW - Lvad
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211192386&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85211192386&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tcm.2024.11.004
DO - 10.1016/j.tcm.2024.11.004
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85211192386
SN - 1050-1738
VL - 35
SP - 186
EP - 194
JO - Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine
JF - Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine
IS - 3
ER -