常见问题:与心室辅助装置(VAD)一起生活

• 我需要吃药吗?
• VAD会如何影响我的日常生活?
• 我可以用VAD锻炼吗?
• 我可以带着VAD旅行吗?
• 我需要用VAD注射血液稀释剂吗?
• 我如何处理这条线从我的胸部或腹部?
• 血压重要吗?
• 我可以带着VAD开车吗?
• 我可以带着VAD洗澡或游泳吗?
• 亲密呢?

我需要服用什么药物吗?

You will continue to take your heart failure medications after you have your left ventricular assist device (LVAD). 其中包括利尿剂, 血压药物和其他支持心脏功能的药物. The number and dosages of these medications may change based on your vital signs while on LVAD support. 根据你的临床情况，你也可能开始服用不同的药物. 您的机械循环支持(MCS)团队将监测您的药物, 你心脏功能, 你的生命体征和你的左心室辅助器参数，以便你得到最佳的支持.

VAD会如何影响我的日常生活?

带着LVAD生活是一种新的生活方式——一种“新常态”." It will take some time to get used to having an LVAD since it is always connected to your body. You will have to made adjustments to some of your daily activities based on now having additional connections and needing constant power source. Fortunately, the external parts of the LVAD are getting smaller as technology is advancing. 电池重量更轻，使用时间更长. 你甚至可以把插头插入你的汽车. 你可能需要调整你的睡眠方式，这样你就不会躺在你的LVAD上. You will also have to remember that you will always have an open area which is a source of infection so you will need to monitor and take good care of this.

当然, 你会注意到随着时间的推移，你的呼吸越来越不急促了, 比你在使用左心室辅助器之前的很长一段时间都有更多的精力. 一切都是为了回归生活. And changing the mindset of drinking can sometimes be a challenge when you are used to limiting your fluid intake for your heart failure before your LVAD. You can and should drink more fluid since the LVAD is circulating blood through your body at a set speed. 有时如果你没有摄入足够的液体, 或者外面很热, 你可能会感到短暂的眩晕. 这通常可以通过多喝水和慢慢改变体位来解决.

我可以用VAD锻炼吗?

Physical activity is always good, not just for your heart, but for the rest of your body. You will have to start slow because you have been in the hospital for some time and your muscles are probably out of shape. 最初在回家后, you will still feel quite tired; this is normal after such a big surgery. 一般来说，你唯一的活动限制将是游泳或接触性运动. 你的利来登录可以和你讨论运动目标和指导方针.

我可以带着VAD旅行吗?

绝对! Once your chest is healed and your MCS team feels that your vital signs and LVAD are working optimally without any issues, 你可以像其他人一样旅行. 你唯一需要注意的是乘飞机旅行的时候, you will need to notify the security personnel that you have an LVAD and will need to carry your VAD equipment on the plane. 很明显，如果不发出警报，就无法通过安检. 如果可能的话, carry a statement explaining your LVAD from your MCS team so there is no question about equipment. You will just need to be sure before any type of travel that you take enough charged batteries with you to sustain the pump function until you get to your destination. 你现在有了左心室辅助器，所以享受你的生活，看看这个利来登录.

我需要用VAD注射血液稀释剂吗?

You will need to be on blood thinners and most likely an aspirin for as long as you have your LVAD. 最初, blood work will be done somewhat frequently to assure that your blood is as thin as it needs to be to allow for the LVAD to work at its best. 就像任何人造的, 机械设备, 血液稀释剂有助于防止设备中出现小血栓的风险. Watching your diet and understanding the types of food that you eat and how they impact your blood thinners is important. 你要和你的MCS团队讨论这个问题. Your team will strictly monitor your blood thinners and aspirin doses based on your blood work and instruct you on how to make changes to the doses when needed.

我如何处理这条线从我的胸部或腹部?

这条从你的腹部或胸部区域出来的线被称为传动线. It is what connects the LVAD pump to the controller on the outside of your body that runs the pump. 传动系统从你身体出来的地方叫做出口点. 这是非常重要的，这个部位要照顾好，因为有感染的风险. 一旦感染在这个区域定居下来，就很难消除. Also very important to remember when dealing with your LVAD driveline is to keep it as still as you can; excessive movement at the exit site almost always causes local irritation, 会导致感染吗. Your MCS team will teach you and your caregiver how to perform the dressing changes required to maintain your driveline and keep it clean and covered.

血压重要吗?

Blood pressure is very important and keeping good control over blood pressure assures that your LVAD pump functions optimally. Your MCS team will closely monitor your blood pressure and make adjustments to your medications as needed. 如果你能在家测血压，那将会很有帮助, 但由于左心室辅助器产生的治疗类型, many times it is difficult to feel a pulse or get a blood pressure reading on a regular blood pressure cuff. You may be asked to have your blood pressure checked at your primary care physician's office. Sometimes you may be eligible for cardiac rehabilitation and your blood pressure will be checked at that facility frequently. Most commercial automatic blood pressure cuffs are not able to register a blood pressure.

我可以带着VAD开车吗?

Your MCS team and physician will discuss with you when it is appropriate to return to driving a vehicle. 最初, 而你的胸部还在愈合，你正在康复, 你将不被允许开车, 虽然你也可以是其中的一名乘客.

我可以带着VAD洗澡或游泳吗?

一旦伤口愈合你就可以用左心室辅助器洗澡了. Your MCS team will discuss with you the use of a special shower bag provided by your LVAD company. 你可以想象，这是必要的，你不弄湿你的设备. 不幸的是，没有办法用这个设备游泳，因为它不能被淹没. 在不久的将来, the hope is to have a fully implantable LVAD system which will allow you to swim and shower with ease.

亲密呢?

亲密关系对每个人都很重要, and just because you have an LVAD doesn't mean you cannot continue to enjoy intimacy with your partner. You will have to determine how to comfortably manage this so that there is no pressure on the equipment or excessive movement of the driveline at the exit site. 左心室辅助器和亲密的唯一禁忌就是怀孕. 如果你是生育年龄，你 不能 get pregnant with an LVAD as there is no way to safely manage your blood thinner medication with a fetus.