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The Role of Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Literature Review

Jeff Pope

The growing population of heart failure patients andthe corresponding increase in demand for donorhearts has led to the need of alternate medicaltherapies. The availability of donor hearts is scarce,transplant is expensive, and many patients are too illto withstand the transplant operation. Leftventricular assist devices (LVADs) have aided inthe treatment leading up to heart transplantation andthe recovery of reversible myocardial damage. Withthe increasing use of LVADs, echocardiography hasbecome an extensive diagnostic aid in theevaluation of patients with LVADs. Because of thisgrowing use of LVADs, it is necessary forsonographers to have a complete and currentawareness of these devices. This literature reviewaims to expand the echocardiographer's knowledgeof LVADs and to offer suggestions and techniquesthat may help in the evaluation of a patient with anLVAD.

Key Words: left ventricular assist devices • transthoracic echocardiography • cardiac ultrasound • transesophageal echocardiography

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