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Surveillance Echocardiography for LVAD Patients

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Mechanical Circulatory Support for Advanced Heart Failure
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Abstract

Guidelines have been previously published for the use of echocardiography during each of the various phases of care for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients [1]. This chapter focuses on the use of surveillance echocardiography either before hospital discharge or during routine scheduled follow-up appointments. Surveillance examinations can confirm individual patients’ baseline echo parameters, which can later be used for problem solving if the patient presents with new abnormal signs or symptoms. Also, surveillance examinations can detect abnormalities of the native heart and pump malfunctions that might otherwise remain occult, particularly in less active patients.

Substantial portions of this material were adapted from Stainback RF, Estep JD, Agler DA, et al. Echocardiography in the management of patients with left ventricular assist devices: Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2015; 28(8):853–909. Used with permission.

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Correspondence to Raymond F. Stainback M.D. .

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Stainback, R.F. (2018). Surveillance Echocardiography for LVAD Patients. In: Morgan, J., Civitello, A., Frazier, O. (eds) Mechanical Circulatory Support for Advanced Heart Failure . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65364-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65364-8_11

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