Emergency Medicine Board Bombs 99. LVADs: More Machine than Man
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Jan 24, 2021 Dive into the wild world of LVADs, where humor meets life-saving medical insights. Discover the surprising connections between famous figures like Darth Vader and Dick Cheney with these devices. Get practical tips for emergency care, from monitoring blood pressure to managing suction events. Learn how to tackle pump failures and the importance of swift team coordination. With a blend of comedy and critical care knowledge, this discussion demystifies LVADs and prepares you for real-life medical scenarios.
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The Apple Watch Scare
- Dr. Grace recounted a scenario where multiple LVAD team members were called in for a patient.
- However, the issue was with the patient's Apple Watch alarming, not the LVAD.
Most Common LVAD Complication
- Know the most common device-related complication in LVAD patients.
- It's a suction event, not infection, pump failure, or pump thrombosis.
LVAD and Pulse/Heart Sounds
- LVAD patients often lack a palpable pulse and discernible heart sounds due to continuous flow.
- This can make obtaining blood pressure readings difficult and misleading.