LVAD. Would You Do That Again?

If you had to do it over, would you have the LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) implanted again? I see that question posted a lot on online chat groups. Our answer...YES, of course.

The LVAD did exactly what it was supposed to do for us...it was a bridge to transplant. My husband had the LVAD implanted in December, 2014, and had a heart transplant on October 10, 2016.

We had very few hiccups with the LVAD. My advice...follow the directions for care exactly as instructed. During the 22 months that my husband had the LVAD, he never took a shower, he rarely, if ever, drank water (he drank high electrolyte/low sodium fluids), we religiously did the dressing changes, and we never missed an appointment at the LVAD clinic. (And yes...you can survive without a shower for two years!)

Was it stressful? Yes, absolutely. You have a loved one being kept alive by battery power.

I can remember being trained on the LVAD dressing changes. The woman teaching the class said the majority of infections happen after the six month mark as caregivers become less rigid in following the rules and safety protocol. I remember thinking that would never happen. I followed the type written rules with ever single dressing change for 22 months. We wore gloves, had our masks on, and cleaned the dressing the same on day one as month 22. We were so committed to staying heathy and strong.

I think my husband and I had two different perspectives on the LVAD. He viewed it as very temporary. As soon as he got home from the hospital with the LVAD, he waited for ‘the call’ that a heart was available. (That doesn’t happen!) He lived each day waiting for the call...but, he did not miss out on life. He attended family functions, went out with friends (great friends), and I do not believe he worried about something going wrong with the LVAD. Lord, he was so happy to be alive, he never complained.

I worried more about something happening. What if he was out to lunch with his friends and the controller died? What if the power goes out? What if he gets an infection?

It all worked out...having said that, we really worked at it. An LVAD does take effort on the part of the patient and caregivers.

Terri McEachern

January, 2017