Ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy
Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute® offers ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy as one option for people with advanced heart failure.
VAD therapy is used for individuals with advanced heart failure who find that medicine and lifestyle changes are no longer enough to treat their condition.
For some patients, VAD therapy is used as a support as they are evaluated for heart transplant or awaiting transplant. For others, VAD therapy is used as a life-long (destination) treatment, which includes the use of a ventricular assist device and lifestyle changes. These changes include wearing equipment on the outside of your body 24/7 as well as daily medicine, dietary changes, physical limitations and frequent medical follow-up.
What is a VAD?
A VAD is a mechanical heart pump that is surgically implanted into the chest to help your heart pump blood. It has four main parts:
- implantable heart pump, placed inside your body
- controller outside of your body to control the pump
- driveline (small tube) connecting heart pump to controller
- external power source outside of your body
Educational videos for your VAD
A series of educational videos and resource materials are available (on PC, laptop and tablet) for the HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device.
Considering VAD therapy: what to expect
Your team of VAD experts at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute is here to support you as you consider VAD therapy as a treatment option for advanced heart failure. These specialists ensure you understand the benefits, risks and overall treatment plan. You are encouraged to have someone with you who is able to support you during this process and be familiar with this information.
There are multiple stages to VAD therapy:
Consultation
The first step is a consultation with our advanced heart failure team. At this meeting a provider will review your history and talk with you about treatment options. These options could include changes in medications, other procedures or an evaluation for a VAD.
Evaluation
Your next step is an evaluation. The evaluation is a set of tests, procedures and consultations that will help you and the advanced heart failure team determine the best care for you and decide whether a VAD is a possible treatment for you. The goals of an evaluation are to:
- determine if a VAD might help you
- understand if it would be safe for you to get a VAD based on your medical history
- provide you and your support system information about the VAD equipment and lifestyle changes necessary.
Your advanced heart failure team will work with you to find the best treatment options. During this time, you are encouraged to actively participate in your health care plans. If you have questions about tests or procedures, please talk about these with your advanced heart failure team.
Making a decision about VAD therapy can be overwhelming. Your care team wants you to know you are not alone. They are here to help you every step of the way. The evaluation process is designed to help you decide if a VAD is the best choice for you.
Video: LVAD decision aid
Surgery
Recovery from VAD implant surgery takes time. Patients usually spend two to three weeks in the hospital as part of their recovery. It is common for people to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a week or longer.
Watch our Heart Surgery: Intensive Care video to learn more about what to expect during your ICU stay.