Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Peripheral Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Without Left Ventricular Venting
Published on: January 17, 2025
Left ventricular assist devices and other devices for end-stage heart failure: utility of echocardiography
James N Kirkpatrick1, Susan E Wiegers, Roberto M Lang
1Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19096, USA. james.kirkpatrick@uphs.upenn.edu
Abstract:
The burgeoning ranks of patients with heart failure, the limited number of organs available for heart transplant, and technological improvements have made ventricular assist devices (VADs) important therapeutic options for patients with acute and chronic cardiac decompensation. The increased use of VADs is paralleled by an increased use of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography to 1) assist in the selection of patients for VAD therapy and VADs to meet patient needs; 2) identify important anatomic considerations prior to implant; 3) guide placement of VADs; 4) diagnose the etiology of VAD dysfunction; and 5) guide the weaning from VAD support and the optimization of VAD device settings. This review discusses types of VADs and the uses of echocardiography in the care of VAD patients.
Related Concept Videos
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for diagnosing...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion, evaluates...
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
