Left Ventricular Assist Devices - LVAD

Complications:

 • Suction event

 • Stroke

 • Pump Thrombosis

 • Equipment failure

 • Cardiopulmonary Arrest

LVAD Monitoring:

 • Pump Flow - Pump flow is a surrogate for cardiac output based on pump speed and power. Typical range is 4-6 L/min.

 • Pump Speed - Pump Speed is the rate of rotation of LVAD rotor. Typical range is 3000-9000 rpm.

 • Pulse Index / Pulsatility

   - Pulse index (Pl) is a dimensionless measure of the magnitude of pulsatile flow generated by the native heart. Typical range is 3-7.

   - Lower Pl = less baseline heart function (consider loss of circulating volume, arrythmia, worsening contractility)

   - Higher PI = more baseline heart function (inotropes, lower afterload, etc)

 • Pump Power - Amount of power (W) needed by the LVAD to maintain speed and flow. Typically 4-7W. Rising pump power can suggest incipient thrombosis.



By Nick Mark MD @nickmmark and Eric Lawson, MD @EricLawson90



#LVAD #Left #Ventricular #Assist #Devices #diagnosis #management #cardiology