Need a little advice about my dad

Hello,

This is my first post. My dad is 74 and suffering from advanced heart failure. 
He had a heart attack which closed off the main artery into his heart. 
The doctors at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit are proposing a LVAD for my father, which my dad feels is the correct choice for him as well. My question is, what is this surgery’s success rate for someone of my father’s age? And how about the length of recovery? The doctors are saying recovery takes about 90 days. I just want to make sure he does get to a point where his quality of life is back to a nice active level, and this doesn’t turn into a complete nightmare struggle where he never gets better and there is just new complications one after another. 
I guess I’m just looking for some reassurance regarding someone of my dad’s age and this surgery. 
Thank you. 
 

Question, will the doc's approve him for rehab?

Yes in fact they are saying he should be on his way soon.. had a Doctor today tell me that an Rvad does not exist tho..

First, a word of encouragement. I’m now 2 years and 4 months past getting my HM3 and doing fine. I was in the hospital a bit over a month, then rehospitalized twice shortly after discharge because the right side was having trouble keeping up. My team said it’s like the left side is now functioning as it should and the right side is saying, “What the heck is going on over there?” It took several months to get things stabilized. Rehab was a big part of that. So because his doctors are recommending it, I encourage him to do it. In addition to the excellent care I got, it was the single most effective thing I did. Rehab starts where you are able. It was a comfort to know they were closely monitoring me, and to see the other folks and the progress they had made and were making. It was also encouraging for my family, and helped establish new habits and a new lifestyle. No guarantees - if we weren’t pretty sick we wouldn’t need these things, and everyone’s journey is unique. But they tell me that problems with the right heart are fairly common after getting an LVAD. Rehab can help it adapt and strengthen, and be a gateway to enjoying these “bonus years.” 

I think Larry N has given good advice. I was close to 75 when I got my HeartMate3 and definitely have a better quality of life. My EF was around 15 and thankfully a great cardiologist suggested the LVAD and gave me a short window to get it done. Yes, there’s difficult recovery which takes time and adjustments, such as my pacemaker/ICD going off, right ventricle issues, med changes, rehab and the new way of life.
Now, I feel good, golf, travel and am grateful for the development of the LVAD.
 

My husband had LVAD end of August. He was having last test to be considered for transplant. Unfortunately the test showed that his R heart was having severe hypertension. He was denied for transplant and it was touch and go about LVAD. After OR he came out with about 20 different IV meds and a very weak R ventricle. At one point they discussed RVAD but this was an external pump that could only be used temporarily. I was told that there was no VAD that could be used permanently. My husband did come home for a few weeks with an iontotrope to help R ventricle. Since then he has improved a great deal and IV was stopped in early Jan and so far so good. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Good luck !

Reading all of these with tears in my eyes!!! Such an amazing journey all of you have shared and it gives me HOPE for me dad, (and sometimes when its lets call it a "bad day") its hard to find that hope, I feel in some cases too many doctors can be a good thing, and also a bad thing, they all say something different sometimes 

They are sending him home, not rehab but home.

He is very weak after being in bed for a now total of 11 weeks (3 pre op and 9  post op) of course he will be coming home with home care and of course we will be here 100%

Right side of his heart is struggling badly, making his kidney function go up and down, he is on dopamine to help the right side squeeze and that does seem to make the kidney function a bit more stable.

The mere mention of an Rvad is instantly dismissed, so maybe when hes home ill contact Saint Lukes who seems to do the MOST Rvads out there.

anyone here ever seriously looked into them? I see alot of mixed results, some say its for the OR ONLY, I actually know of one person who who HAS it somewhat locally (I have yet to speak to him tho)

Hi Tony

Hope all went well with your Dad's discharge. I am way behind on my emails and just saw your comment about rehab. Hopefully they arranged Homecare with PT and OT to help build your father's strength up. The first month was a little hectic but the minute my husband got back into his own bed after 90 days in hospital he started to feel better. I hope and pray it goes as well for your Dad as it did for us.

They don't seem to want to help cure him anymore its about "Comfort" in the hospital he had a team of doctors and the team all has very different opinions, sadly the one in charge of his case was on the negative side of things.. feel like im batting my head against the wall

Not the same city but close, We did get the primary doctor involved and that seemed to change a bit now, seems like everyone is coming around now, PT at home is starting to take hold as well!!!

Thanks so much for all the help and advice, this has been one heck of a time to say the least 

Glad to hear that things are starting to come together now. It is just 6 months since my husband's LVAD. He spent 90 days in hospital two thirds of it in ICU. It is unbelievable the progress in 4 months.He came home in a wheelchair walking short distances with walker, with a feeding tube and unable to get in and out of bed without a lot of help. Now he is walking around house and only using cane for long distances. He drove the car for the first time in a year and a half last week! Hang in there and try as much as possible to set short goals that are attainable so your Dad and the family do not get discouraged. I truly believe that attitude is at least 50 % of the healing process. Take care.    Diane

Hello tony, hope you and family doing well I have the same story with my father 

he had an Lvad in mount sinai hospital last year 

after that his R ventricular became weak and No Dr advised him for Rvad , all was advising for HEART TRANSPLANT, don’t waste more time thinking of other solutions because RT ventricular side weakness will effect other organs 

I know it’s not easy , I knew it and felt it 

go ahead discuss the transplant with LVad team,

Keep updating us .. take care

Hi Tony

How is your dad doing at home? Have not seen any recent posts.