LVAD Careplan

Wow! You have a kiddo with an LVAD? I'm in a HS now but I was on a heart failure floor, directly caring for LVAD patients for a year and a half so I am somewhat nostalgic about this. (Obviously I wish this kid wasn't sick enough to need an LVAD, but I hope you know where I'm coming from).

The basics: know what kind of VAD it is. Heartware vs. Heartmate II vs. Heartmate III. Depending on how old this kid is, they should somewhat know what their PI, flow, and power should be and recognize when their numbers are off compared to how they're feeling. Also, Heartwares and Heartmate II's require you to take a MAP using a doppler (if you ever need to assess this), Heartmate III's are SOMETIMES pulsatile so you MIGHT be able to get a regular BP. Ask the parent.

Make sure they are bringing a backup controller and batteries to school. Maybe have their parent show you how to do a controller change (extremely rare but would be helpful in an emergency) and battery changes (if the student can't do this on their own).

Obviously safety is a big concern here. You want to make sure that the driveline is protected.

I've heard mixed information about initiating CPR on people with LVADs-- some sources say it can damage the machinery and the heart, some say it's safe.

LVADs are dependent on preload and afterload, so I'd probably put assessing fluid volume status somewhere in your care plan.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!

38 minutes ago, Mavnurse17 said:

Wow! You have a kiddo with an LVAD? I'm in a HS now but I was on a heart failure floor, directly caring for LVAD patients for a year and a half so I am somewhat nostalgic about this. (Obviously I wish this kid wasn't sick enough to need an LVAD, but I hope you know where I'm coming from).

The basics: know what kind of VAD it is. Heartware vs. Heartmate II vs. Heartmate III. Depending on how old this kid is, they should somewhat know what their PI, flow, and power should be and recognize when their numbers are off compared to how they're feeling. Also, Heartwares and Heartmate II's require you to take a MAP using a doppler (if you ever need to assess this), Heartmate III's are SOMETIMES pulsatile so you MIGHT be able to get a regular BP. Ask the parent.

Make sure they are bringing a backup controller and batteries to school. Maybe have their parent show you how to do a controller change (extremely rare but would be helpful in an emergency) and battery changes (if the student can't do this on their own).

Obviously safety is a big concern here. You want to make sure that the driveline is protected.

I've heard mixed information about initiating CPR on people with LVADs-- some sources say it can damage the machinery and the heart, some say it's safe.

LVADs are dependent on preload and afterload, so I'd probably put assessing fluid volume status somewhere in your care plan.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!

And this is why I love our little corner of All Nurses!