Ventricular Assist Devices: Physiology Meets Technology
Abstract
Ventricular assist devices (VADs) offer a vital option to severely compromised cardiac patients. By maintaining perfusion throughout the body, VADs allow necessary time for recovery or retrieval of a donor heart. Patient selection is imperative for positive patient outcomes and cost containment. The three designs of VADs include the roller pump, centrifugal pump, and pneumatic pump. The pneumatic pump offers the most hope in the development of a permanent device. Evaluation of both the patient and the device determines the effectiveness of treatment and ultimately patient outcome. Advanced nursing practice incorporates the five roles of the clinical nurse specialist to provide optimal and holistic care for the unique VAD patient population
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA268124
Entities
People
- Cynthia K. Hilsher
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology