Published in:
01-09-2014 | Self-Care and Health Outcomes (T Jaarsma, Section Editor)
Learning Self-care After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation
Authors:
Naoko Kato, Tiny Jaarsma, Tuvia Ben Gal
Published in:
Current Heart Failure Reports
|
Issue 3/2014
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Abstract
The number of heart failure (HF) patients living with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as destination therapy is increasing. Successful long-term LVAD support includes a high degree of self-care by the patient and their caregiver, and also requires long-term support from a multidisciplinary team. All three components of self-care deserve special attention once an HF patient receives an LVAD, including activities regarding self-care maintenance (activities related both to the device and lifestyle), self-care monitoring (e.g., monitoring for complications or distress), and self-care management (e.g., handling alarms or coping with living with the device). For patients to perform optimal self-care once they are discharged, they need optimal education that focuses on knowledge and skills through a collaborative, adult learning approach.