Simulation-Based Mastery Learning Improves Ventricular Assist Device Self-Care Skills

Ramping up evidence-based ventricular assist device care.

Over the past several decades, mechanical circulatory support has become an increasingly important treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. Initial proof-of-concept trials focused on reducing the mortality of critically ill patients in cardiogenic shock. Although the ultimate goal of mechanically assisted circulation was always long-term support as an alternative to cardiac transplan...

Left ventricular assist device therapy improves utilization of donor hearts.

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the survival experiences of patients bridged to heart transplantation with either intravenous (IV) inotropes or an implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD). BACKGROUND Because of the operative risks of LVAD implantation and the reported lower mortality associated with inotropic therapy, bridging to heart transplantation with inotropes is thought to b...

Ventricular Assist Device-Specific Infections

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have been shown to offer a significant survival benefit over medical therapy in patients with advanced heart failure. Despite significant advances in device technology and surgical technique, VAD-specific infections still remain among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with VADs. VAD-specific infections may involve the driveline exit ...

Ventricular arrhythmias after left ventricular assist device.

Improvement of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in Artificial Heart Using Particle Swarm Optimization

In this approach, the Left ventricular assist pump for patients with left ventricular failure isused. The failure of the left ventricle is the most common heart disease during these days. Inthis article, a State feedback controller method is used to optimize the efficiency of a samplingpump current. Particle Swarm Algorithm, which is a set of rules to update the position andvelocity, is applied...