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Updated: May 12, 2026

Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart
Published on: May 11, 2018
Patient decision-making in left ventricular assist devices for destination therapy
1Nurse Practitioner, Palliative and Geriatric Medicine Inova Fairfax Hospital, US.
Background:
Heart failure is a common life-limiting disease. A destination therapy for people who will not have a heart transplant is a left ventricular assist device.
Aims:
To discover how patients who have a left ventricular assist device for destination therapy make decisions about their healthcare after implantation of the device.
Methods:
A descriptive qualitative design with semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 11 participants who are living with a left ventricular assist device for destination therapy.
Findings:
People with a left ventricular assist device felt they had 'no choice' when making decisions about their healthcare.
Conclusion:
Engaging with patients to contemplate present and future healthcare decisions is a complex process that includes cognitive processes within the patient. Clinicians need to be aware that a gap may occur between what is said and what is heard in communication.
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