When is a left ventricular assist device typically used?

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is primarily utilized as a bridge to heart transplantation. This device is implanted to take over the pumping function of the left ventricle in patients who are experiencing severe heart failure. It helps maintain adequate blood flow to vital organs while waiting for a compatible donor heart.

When the heart is unable to pump effectively due to various conditions, such as advanced heart failure, the LVAD becomes a critical intervention, enabling patients to regain a better quality of life and potentially survive long enough to receive a heart transplant. The LVAD allows for improved cardiac output, which reduces the burden on the heart and alleviates symptoms associated with heart failure.

In contrast, while a heart attack may damage the heart's pumping ability, an LVAD is not typically used immediately following such an event unless it leads to severe heart failure. It is not also intended for managing high blood pressure, as hypertension is a chronic condition that requires different treatment approaches. Lastly, during cardiac catheterization, which is a diagnostic procedure used to visualize coronary arteries and heart function, an LVAD is not indicated, as it serves a distinct purpose in the management of heart failure.