Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | From preoperative to Follow-up: Nursing Management of Patient with Advanced Heart Failure Candidate for a L-VAD Implantation |
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| Name | Piccinini Valentina |
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| Supervisor(s) | Mapelli Jonathan, Stefani Omar |
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| Academic Year | 2021/22 |
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| Thesis type | Non research thesis |
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Abstract
Chronic heart failure affects approximately 64.3 million people globally, causing symptoms that deeply debilitate patients' organism and undermine their independence. Drug therapies often do not prove effective in treating symptoms, and more patients fall into NYHA classes III and IV. In cases of advanced or refractory heart failure, the heart transplant represents the gold-standard therapy, but the scarce availability of donors has led to the development of long-lasting ventricular assist devices: the VAD (Ventricular Assist Device). This thesis describes the nurse's role and the activities performed in assisting a patient candidate for an L-VAD (Left-Ventricular Assist Device) implant. The main focus is upon the collaboration with the medical team during the implant preparation, during the surgical procedure and during the management of the patient after the surgery, going from the prevention to the management of pre, intra and postoperative risks and complications, for a complete and rapid rehabilitation. The keywords used during the research were left heart failure, L-VAD, nursing, complications, and follow up.
