title: Upstream palliative care for the patient with a left ventricular assist device as destination therapy.
abstract: Left ventricular assist devices are increasingly being used as destination therapy for heart failure patients who are not candidates for a heart transplant. The palliative care needs of this population will continue to grow as devices become more effective and more left ventricular assist devices are implanted. As part of an integrated multidisciplinary team, nurses are vital to successful outcomes for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Adult Palliative Medicine Services at MultiCare Health System, Tacoma, Washington, USA. ebyram@msn.com
authors.forename: Elaine Karen
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Byram
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013727:Terminal Care; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000628:therapy; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics