Discharge Instructions; Daily Care; Care Of Equipment; Pain - HeartWare Ventricular Assist System Patient Manual

10 DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
At the time of discharge from the hospital, be certain to follow the instructions for the patient and
their caregiver/companion below.
10.1 Daily Care
1. Change your LVAD lead exit site dressing once a day following the sterile technique taught to
you while in the hospital. During dressing changes look for signs of infection, such as redness,
swelling, drainage or pain. Call your hospital contact person if you notice any of these
symptoms.
2. Call the hospital if your LVAD flow falls to less than ____ LPM, the power (Watts) goes above
_______ or the RPM changes more than 100 RPM.
3. Call the hospital if your temperature is above ____ degrees.
4. Check your weight each morning and record it on your flow sheet. Call your hospital contact
person if you gain more than ____ pounds in one week.
5. Call your hospital contact if you notice any swelling in your ankles or changes in your girth. This
may be a sign of water retention.
6. Notify your hospital contact if there is a change in how the LVAD sounds or feels.
7. Record your LVAD RPM, power (Watts) and flow once a day.
10.2 Care of Equipment
1. Do NOT twist, kink or lay on your LVAD lead exit site.
2. Keep all your LVAD equipment in a dry, room temperature (around 72 degrees F) environment.
Store all extra equipment in your house. Be sure the equipment is stable if stored in closets or
shelves. Dropping LVAD components may lead to damage.
3. When not in use keep Batteries plugged into the Charger – the Charger should always be
plugged into an AC outlet.
4. If you have any questions about operating, cleaning or storing your LVAD equipment, ask your
hospital contact.
5. Do not try to repair or modify any of your LVAD equipment.
10.3 Pain
By the time you are ready to go home, you should not be having much pain. You will be sent home
with pain medication which should be taken as prescribed. If you experience an increase in pain or
pain where you never had pain before, call your contact person.
HeartWare® Ventricular Assist System Patient Manual
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