31 May 2022
We present a simplified LVAD Advanced Life Support algorithm to aid the crucial first minutes of resuscitation where basic interventions are likely to be critical in assuring good patient outcomes.
We demonstrated mean baseline staff confidence score in management of LVAD emergencies was 2.4 ± 1.2 out of a maximum of 5 (n = 29). After training with simulation, mean confidence score increased to 3.5 ± 0.8 (n = 13). Clinical personnel who were provided with the novel resuscitation algorithm were able to reduce time taken to restart LVAD function from a mean value of 49 ± 8.2 seconds (pre-training) to 20.4 ± 5 seconds (post-training) (n = 42, p < 0.0001). The Mechanical Life Support course increased mean confidence from 2.5 ± 1.2 to 4 ± 0.6 (n = 44, p < 0.0001) and mean MCQ score from 18.7 ± 3.4 to 22.8 ± 2.6, out of a maximum of 28 (n = 44, p < 0.0001).