110 likes | 1.17k Views
Managing the LVAD patient in Cardiac Rehabilitation. 2012 NWCVPR Annual Conference MultiCare Health System Tacoma General Hospital Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation Program. Enrolling the LVAD Patient. Start program 6+ weeks after hospital discharge
E N D
Managing the LVAD patientin Cardiac Rehabilitation 2012 NWCVPR Annual Conference MultiCare Health System Tacoma General Hospital Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation Program
Enrolling the LVAD Patient • Start program 6+ weeks after hospital discharge • Talk with VAD Coordinator prior to contacting patient • Typical diagnosis for reimbursement • Tricuspid Valve Annuloplasty – v43.3 • May have CAD co-morbidity
Program Overview • Intake Interview – RN • Montana Outcomes • Minnesota Living with Heart Failure® Questionnaire (VAD study) • 1:1 Exercise Evaluation – CES • 6 Minute Walk Test (VAD study) – potential for separate billing • Exercise Equipment Orientation • Exercise Prescription • Monitored Exercise and Education Classes • ECG monitoring – typically PACED • Case management – risk factor /lifestyle modification • Exercise tolerance – heart failure patient • No blood pressure readings
Program Considerations • Measurement of specific parameters (signs and symptoms, functional limitations, quality of life) • determine specific patient benefit and overall program outcomes • assess and treat as heart failure patient • Help monitor overall medical plan • optimization of medication use • monitoring of daily weights • compliance with sodium restriction • surveillance for potential exacerbations • Education program designed for heart failure patients • Report signs and symptoms of infection (area of drive insertion)
Exercise Training Considerations • Cycling should be assessed for on an individual basis because of the location of the external drive • Hip flexion may be somewhat limited – important to include activities that prevent disuse and to facilitate the return to functional activities • Symptoms of lightheadedness or dizziness • Device has internal sensor that increases flow rate as needed during exercise, sensor may fail, can be manually increased • Symptom limited exercise
LVAD Function with Exercise • LVAD rate can increase automatically as the device senses the volume of blood in the pump chamber, or rate may be controlled manually • The native left ventricle (LV) continues to contract during LVAD function • Rest – LVAD contributes virtually all the cardiac output • Exercise – native LV contributes varying amount of the total cardiac output • Degree of LV contribution is dependant upon degree of LV dysfunction
Our Experience at Tacoma General Hospital • In-service from VAD Coordinator prior to enrolling patients • Developed emergency procedure (modified Sacred Heart’s) • First Patient in October 2009 • 5 total patients • 3 Medicare, 2 Medicaid • 4 completed program, 1 current patient
Emergency Procedures – Heartmate II • Leave Device Alone • Assess/Treat Patient (Volume, Rhythm, HTN • Obstruction: inflow/outflow) IF TIGHT