Left Ventricular Assist Device - Patient Evaluation and Management in the ED

This session will focus on a review of the LVAD, its two basic sub-types, evaluation and assessment of the LVAD patient, and the management of the range of clinical presentations typical of these patients in the ED. We will review and understand the "normal" presentation of the LVAD patient. We will then review the range of presentations typical of the LVAD ED patient, including [1] stable hemodynamics with potential LVAD malfunction, [2] unstable hemodynamics with potential LVAD malfunction. [3] unstable patient with normal LVAD function, and [4] cardiac arrest. Management approaches for each of these scenarios will be presented.