Edgren Scholars: Living with a Left-Ventricular Assist Device

Advanced heart failure is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Since there are not enough donor hearts available for transplant, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has become increasingly common. A pump takes over for the left ventricle, ejecting blood into the aorta and prolonging life. But what it is really like to live with a computer controller & batteries on your waist 24/7 and a drive-line that comes out of your abdomen? Patients share their perceptions - good and bad - about changes to quality of life and self-management. Come hear some stories of the collaborative research project underway with Cedars Sinai (CA) and Bethel University (MN).