LVAD Surgery

A variety of factors will affect the length of the LVAD implant surgery. On average the surgery takes four to eight hours. Most surgeries are scheduled in advance; however some may be performed emergently. During the implant procedure, your family and friends will wait in the ICU waiting area and may receive periodic updates regarding the progress of the surgery.

The operative procedure requires a midline incision to the sternum to access the diseased heart. You are placed on a heart and lung bypass machine while the LVAD is implanted into the diseased heart. Upon implantation of the LVAD, you will be removed from the heart and lung bypass machine, monitored closely and taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).