This interactive lecture provides an overview of ventricular assist devices (VADs), which provide a life-saving bridge for patients with severe heart failure. In the hospital setting, VADs are temporarily placed into a patient’s chest cavity during or after heart surgery to augment the performance of a failing heart. Advances in medical technology have allowed these devices to become portable for use by persons with heart failure in the community. Given the growing popularity of VAD use, it is more and more likely that EMS practitioners will encounter a patient that has one. You must be familiar with the basic operation of VADs, and comfortable assessing and managing a patient who has one implanted.
After completing this course, the practitioner will be able to:
Identify the role VADs play in patients with heart failure.
Discuss the basic operation, settings, and components of VADs.
Explain general assessment and management of patients with VADs.
Practitioners who successfully complete Ventricular Assist Devices (ALS Edition) course are eligible for 0.5 hours of continuing education
