General Information

What has gone wrong?

Each side of the heart is responsible for different parts of the circulation: the right side collects deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs, while the left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and circulates it throughout the body.
The heart's valves ensure that blood flows in one direction, preventing back flow and maintaining efficient circulation.
There may be some diseases that cause the heart to reach a stage of failure where it cannot supply adequate blood to vital organs, leading to the need for mechanical assistance like an LVAD, which helps pump blood from the left ventricle to the aorta and the rest of the body.
It may also be used if you are not an eligible candidate for a heart transplant.

The surgeon makes a large incision (cut) in the chest.
The LVAD is a small, powerful pump that is usually placed next to the heart.
One part of the LVAD is attached to the left ventricle (the heart’s main pumping chamber) with a tube.This helps draw blood from the heart.
It is powered by an external battery pack or a power unit that is worn outside the body, usually attached to a belt or backpack.
A small wire goes through the skin to connect the pump to this power source.