Transfer of a patient with a ventricular assist device to a non-critical care area
Reedy, J.E.
Heart and Lung the Journal of Critical Care 22(1): 71-76
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0147-9563 PMID: 8420859 Document Number: 415180
Ventricular assist device (VAD) support has traditionally been associated with critically ill patients. Indeed, a VAD is inserted as the last hope for patients with cardiogenic shock who are unresponsive to conventional therapy. However, many patients bridged to potential cardiac transplantation are no longer critically ill after hemodynamic stabilization is achieved with VAD support. The focus of this article is to provide guidelines established for the transfer and provision of quality nursing care for patients with a VAD on a general cardiothoracic nursing floor.