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margi a. Family Member

lvad beats

Thu, 06/02/2016 - 9:47PM
Hi everyone! My farher was implanted by a heartmate 3, three months ago. He is slowly recovering from the surgery and getting used to the device. Yet he always feels something like mehanical 'beats' in the thorax. He can't decide whether its origin is the heartmate or maybe the pacemaker he already had before. This feeling is new to him and very uncomfortable. The doctors can't find the reason. Does anyone have any idea of what these beats are? Any change of the device parameters can maybe improve this issue? Thank you so much and loth of health.
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T W.

Wed, 06/22/2016 - 7:51PM
I had a similar experience after having my LVAD implanted. For me, it was the pacemaker that was pushing up against my diaphragm and was causing something the Dr called a stim. They were able to fix it by turning down the voltage coming from my pacemaker. I am probably doing a poor job of explaining it but it is not uncommon and can usually be fixed pretty easily. Just tell the Dr about it.
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Christy R.

Thu, 09/22/2016 - 2:16AM
Hello all, My brother had Lvad in July 2016, some velour is exposed st driveline and he has infection. Low dose Antibiotics were given with no luck. Last week a higher dose of antibiotics were prescribed. Today we change the dressing and there was quite abut of blood on the gause. It this something that could be dangerous... an infection, and blood? Advise please
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daniel s.

Mon, 10/03/2016 - 5:20PM
Christy, The driveline is most subject to infection and is not something to mess with. Contact your LVAD co-ordinator or the facility your brother had his LVAD inserted.
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Gregory D.

Tue, 10/11/2016 - 11:49AM
Hopefully they have found out the issue for your father by now. In my case the PM was the culprit. The left side of the ICD was not disabled and was causing usual beating as well as a jumping sensation. Once it was disabled, all is fine.