Innovative Left Ventricular Assist Device in High-fidelity Patient Simulator.

Wayne Lindsay,Sean O'Hara,Tiffany Nelms,Zachary Sletten

doi:10.7759/cureus.7763

Wayne Lindsay, Sean O'Hara + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7763

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Abstract

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are implantable mechanical devices that pump blood from the apex of the left ventricle to the aorta in order to assist the forward flow of blood; they are most commonly used as a bridge to transplant for patients with heart failure. As of February 2019, a total of 25,145 patients with ventricular assist devices have been reported in the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs). As this number continues to grow, more and more of these patients will inevitably be seen in the acute care setting outside of their defined LVAD center. Currently, however, LVAD emergencies represent a high-acuity low-occurrence event with limited opportunities for exposure and mastery for most physicians. Therefore, a growing need exists for emergency care providers to familiarize themselves with these devices and the management of LVAD emergencies. We present a novel model for the simulation of LVAD emergencies created through simple modifications of a Laerdal 3G Manikin.

Highlights

The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was initially developed in the 1960s as a bridge to cardiac transplant
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are implantable mechanical devices that pump blood from the apex of the left ventricle to the aorta in order to assist the forward flow of blood; they are most commonly used as a bridge to transplant for patients with heart failure
We present a novel model for the simulation of LVAD emergencies created through simple modifications of a Laerdal 3G Manikin

Summary

Introduction

The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was initially developed in the 1960s as a bridge to cardiac transplant. There is no longer a definable systolic and diastolic component to the cardiac cycle These patients will lack a palpable pulse, and healthcare providers will not be able to record a traditional blood pressure [5]. This low-cost simulator may be used to introduce these physiological changes and provide training on common LVAD pathologies such as driveline site infections, bleeding events, and power source failure. This simulation was built with a Laerdal 3G Manikin (Laerdal, Stavanger, Norway); other manikin models may be used in its place. An electric toothbrush was placed in the manikin’s chest cavity and turned on to represent the LVAD pump functioning within the heart, creating the continuous hum that would be heard when auscultating these patients (Figure 7)

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Disclosures