LVAD LUNCH AND LEARN

LVAD Lunch & Learn
For LVAD recipients and families to participate in an LVAD Support Group

Date: May 3rd, 2010

Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm

Lunch will be served

Location: Montefiore Medical Center
3415 Bainbridge Ave Bronx, New York
CHAM Conference Room

Guest Speakers:

Nicolette Keen,MS,RD,CDN
Paula Marcus M.D.
Jery Whitworth RN...

Lunch provided by Thoratec Corporation
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I often joke with my LVAD team at Columbia-Presbyterian/NYC that with my LVAD lithium batteries, I can charge a dead battery in a car. I am now convinced after meeting with 20 + LVAD recipients at one gathering, we all probably can jump-start a Jumbo Jet should the occasion arise. :-)


As I end a great day and change my power source from my lithium batteries to my PBU leads ...yes Margaret, I do sleep without batteries :-)... I can not help to think of how honored I feel to be given the podium to speak before 20+ LVAD recipients. It was also an opportunity to meet Simone Van Tull from the transplantcafe.com site, Dick Clark and Mr. Stowe, all who are LVAD recipients and I have gotten to know them (or of them) from online connections or the telephone. This conference also enabled me to exchange contact info with many new LVAD brothers and sisters :-)

Honored... me at the podium, another humbling experience.

I discussed my ideas on how to live a more comfortable life with the LVAD, such as using the 511Tactical Holster Shirt and my encounters with Thoratec; the company that developed the Heartmate 2 LVAD. In turn, I was asked many questions.

It was amazing to see a conference room populated by folks powered by an LVAD. On the agenda, LVAD medical professionals discussed with the LVAD group ways to address situations that an LVAD recipient may encounter, such as stress, depression, meditations and palliative decisions to name a few.


What was particularly interesting to me was the time taken to heed the words from the LVAD recipient’s caretakers and recognizing their tasks and responsibilities in assisting the LVAD recipient in their daily lives. With that said, I THANK my wife.

And the good saga continues...

The LVAD is a sensible and remarkable option for people with heart falure.

Due to my heart failure my Cardiologist told me i would need a temporary LVAD (left ventricular assist device) to extend my life and lead as normal of a life as possible until my heart transplant. I was classified as a "Bridge to Transplant" patient. Other folks who can not receive a heart transplant may recieve a permanent LVAD under the classification "Destination Therapy".

The LVAD is a titanium pump that does the job of the heart's left ventricle; pumping oxygen enriched blood.

It is implanted behind the ribcage and grafted to the heart.

The pump is a mini jet/turbine motor turning 8,600 +/- revolutions per minute (RPM). Its job is to pump 4 to 7 liters of blood per minute from the left ventricle up to the aorta. The LVAD is powered through a special wire called a driveline that is connected to the pump portion of the LVAD and tracks through the body to an exit point in the lower left or right abdomen.

The driveline wire exits the abdomen and is connected to a system controller/computer that monitors and powers the LVAD. The main functions of the system controller maintain the pump motor's RPM, the amount of blood flow while alerting the LVAD recipient with alarms should something be abnormal or fail. It also stores in depth daily data that can be seen on a home base system monitor or retrieved at the hospital during routine checkups.

The power source of the LVAD is electricity via a household electrical outlet or 2 lithium batteries. The lithium batteries can last up to 16+ hours in an emergency but 12 hours is the recommended use before changing to fully charged batteries.

Each battery weighs close to 1.5 lbs and worn in shoulder-supported holsters.

When at home, but especially asleep, the batteries are removed and the LVAD is plugged into a household electrical outlet. Each time an LVAD recipient leaves his or her home, they must carry at least 2 extra batteries and an extra system controller in the event of rare problems or failures.

As an LVAD recipient, I believe the LVAD is a sensible and remarkable option for people with heart falure. As stated by a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Dr Ulrich Jorde said "...it could save the lives of 10,000 Americans a year."

And it saved mine.

And the good saga continues...