Nursing care of the patient with a pneumatic ventricular assist device

Recent technologic advances have led to the development of safe and effective mechanical ventricular assist devices for clinical use. Pneumatic assist devices are being used at an increasing rate at a limited number of institutions throughout the country. One of the major factors in influencing survival of these critically ill patients is establishing standards of nursing care. We recently reviewed our experience of 41 patients who received a Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist device to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care being provided to these patients. This article includes our most recent protocols of nursing care, which have evolved over the past 6 years. Nursing interventions to prevent or treat common complications such as bleeding, renal failure, and infection are discussed.