More and more heart failure patients are being discharged from the hospital with ventricular assist devices (VADs).
VAD centers should notify local EMS agencies when a patient returns home with one of these devices to ensure responders are properly trained to deal with VAD-related emergencies.
Given our proximity to two major VAD centers - the University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins - Baltimore County EMS providers will undoubtedly encounter patients with these devices with some frequency.
There is an excellent review article entitled "Prehospital Assessment and Management of Patients with Ventricular-Assist Devices" in the journal Prehospital Emergency Care (PEC 2013;17:223-229).
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Pre-Hospital Mechanical Circulatory Support Task Force 2009 Field Guide contains a FAQ sheet and emergency instructions for each of the devices listed below:
HeartWare HVAD
VentrAssist LVAD
HeartMate II
HeartMate XVE
Thoratec PVAD w/TLC II Driver
Jarvik 2000 FlowMaker
This emergency VAD field guide is available through the University of Maryland Heart Center Mechanical Heart and Lung Support home page found at:
http://www.umm.edu/heart/pdf/mechanical-circulatory-support.pdf
EMS 8 Lt. Barshinger coordinates an online training program to familiarize and educate Baltimore County EMS providers on VADs. Forward your name and email address to jbarshinger@baltimorecoutnymd.gov to register for this online training.
No comments:
Post a Comment