LVad questions

Hi Tackroom Fred, The peak and trough as it relates to LVAD is most likely referring to Coumadin levels. It is important with LVAD not to clot off the pump, so the blood must be monitored extremely closely to insure it is thin enough, but not too thin. I would speak to your physician or LVAD coordinator in your heart failure clinic so that this can be explained in greater detail. As far as the surgery is concerned, LVAD implantation is open heart surgery. It cannot be done without opening the sternum. Although the designs of the devices are getting better and smaller, it does still require that the heart be completely exposed. These surgeries are done by highly qualified and credentialed cardiothoracic surgeons. I hope this helps.