Review article: ventricular assist devices in the emergency department.
Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become an indispensable tool in the management of end-stage cardiac failure, both as a means of bridging to cardiac transplantation and as destination therapy for long-term quality of life improvement. Although the technology continues to advance and these devices continue to be refined, they are still associated with significant complications. This article reviews the basics of VAD function and physiology, as well as the myriad to complications that follow their implantation. This review aims to provide a systematic approach to the troubleshooting, diagnosis and management of both VAD-associated complications and the resuscitation of the decompensated VAD patient presenting to the ED.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Christopher
C
Partyka
Ben
B
Taylor
D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects
complication; emergency; resuscitation; ventricular assist device