Ventricular Assist Devices: Physiology Meets Technology

摘要

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) offer a vital option to severely compromisedcardiac patients. By maintaining perfusion throughout the body, VADs allow necessary time for recovery or retrieval of a donor heart. Patient selection is imperative for positive patient outcomes and cost containment. The three designs of VADs include the roller pump, centrifugal pump, and pneumatic pump. The pneumatic pump offers the most hope in the development of a permanent device. Evaluation of both the patient and the device determines the effectiveness of treatment and ultimately patient outcome. Advanced nursing practice incorporates the five roles of the clinical nurse specialist to provide optimal and holistic care for the unique VAD patient population.