Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

If your heart failure symptoms are getting worse, it might be time to meet with the Bryan LVAD team to consider advanced treatment options. LVAD, which stands for left ventricular assist device, is a mechanical device that helps your heart pump blood from the left ventricle (main pumping chamber of the heart) throughout your body. An LVAD is also known as an implantable heart pump.

Is LVAD an option for you?

This technology helps those with advanced heart failure. It is a treatment option if your heart is too weak to pump on its own and:

• You are waiting for heart transplant surgery
• You do not qualify for heart transplant surgery and meet certain other conditions (see below)

You may benefit from an LVAD if you're experiencing the following:

• Ejection fraction (EF) is less than 25 percent. This is a measurement of how much blood your heart pushes out into your body with each beat. A normal EF is 50 percent or higher
• Heart failure symptoms are at Class 4 which means:
  • Any physical activity causes discomfort
  • You have heart failure symptoms even while resting (no physical activity)
• Heart medication doses are decreasing due to symptoms
• Diuretic medication doses are increasing
• Kidney function is getting worse
• Electrolytes, especially sodium, are getting worse
• Recurring hospital visits for heart failure symptoms

LVAD Benefits

An LVAD restores normal blood flow to your heart and your body, and has been shown to reduce heart failure/congestive heart failure symptoms such as constantly feeling tired or being short of breath. This can improve how you feel and your quality of life.

For Your Advanced Heart Failure Care, Trust the Known Experts at Bryan

• Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Certified Center – There are only 185 certified VAD centers in the United States and Bryan is one of them. Achieving this advanced certification level ensures high quality of care 
• Strong working relationship with UNMC for heart transplant eligible patients
• Our patient care team is available to care for you, 24/7

Heart Pumps Improve Lives

Bryan staff is trained to care for both Heart Mate II ® and Heartmate 3 ® LVADs. If you are a candidate for a surgically implanted pump, you will receive the most current device, the Heartmate 3 ® LVAD, a proven and effective heart pump that has helped more than 20,000 patients worldwide.

The Heartmate 3 ® LVAD:

• Is much smaller than earlier assist devices
• Provides life-sustaining pumping action to a broader range of patients
• Gives you greater freedom with long-lasting portable batteries
• Allows you to live more independently

Learn More

Talk to your doctor about a referral for an LVAD or email us to learn more.

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