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Kimberly D. Caregiver

Seeking information about explant for patient who had an ischemic heart attack

Dear LVAD community, Do you know anybody who has had had their LVAD removed due to improved heart function after the patient had an ischemic heart attack? I am not seeking medical advice, simply information. I am the caregiver to a Heartmate II patient located in Houston, Texas. My husband (the patient) received his LVAD two weeks after having a sudden near-fatal ischemic heart attack in February 2017. His latest heart function test showed that his heart has improved from 10-15% in February 2017 to 56% by February 2018. He also has had zero events, drive-line infections, or hospital stays related to the LVAD since he was discharged in March 2017 after having the device implanted. He is doing remarkably well. We are seeking to have his device explanted if possible instead of getting a heart transplant. The trouble is that his doctors have never ex-planted a patient who had an ischemic heart attack and they don't know anybody who has. All I want to know is if you have any data on patients like my husband who have had their LVAD removed due to improved heart function after the patient had an ischemic heart attack. Any information you could offer would help us and his doctors determine the best course of treatment for my husband Thanks so much, and God Bless!
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Myriam T.

Yes, there have been 5 or 6 LVAD removals in the last 7 years at Mayo Clinic in PHX AZ due to improved heart function.
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David A.

How come if you have left ventricle damaged you can get your Lvad removed. Surely it would never Inprove?
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David A.

How come if you have left ventricle damaged you can get your Lvad removed. Surely it would never Inprove?
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David A.

How come if you have left ventricle damaged you can get your Lvad removed. Surely it would never Inprove?
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Kimberly D.

Dear David Alderman, LVAD removal is exceptionally rare. Our medical team told us that less than half a percent of LVADs are removed without transplant. Most of those are patients get LVAD as a result of a virus, not damage from blockages or damage from a heart attack. But nothing about my husband's case is typical. Marion had advanced heart failure, but he showed no signs of it. Right about midnight on 2/11/2017, without any warning, he rolled out of our bed and had a sudden, massive heart attack. He was 40 years old and dying right before my eyes. I began bystander CPR - I am not a trained medical professional, and I have learned that he had less than a 4% chance of surviving with my CPR. Our paramedics arrived and used the defibrillator, then transported him to our local hospital. The hospital could see his condition was too advanced for their resources. He was transported by lifeflight to Memorial Hermann at the Texas Medical Center, where he coded again. By the time I got there, they told me he would either die or live with significant brain injuries. By my calculations, he was without oxygen for at least 13 minutes, but he coded for a total of 19 - brain damage begins at 6 minutes. They sent a chaplain in be with us, and just after we prayed, Marion came back. He woke up, and when I called his name, he turned his head towards me. It was a miracle - they had just told me he wasn't waking up or responding to any stimuli, they thought he was brain dead. After he was placed on ECMO, Marion was put into the ICU.​ ​ ​After 2 weeks he was given LVAD. 4 days after this surgery, he moved to the IMU. Two weeks after open heart surgery, Marion was sent home. That was​ 27 days after he technically died twice. Today Marion is not only surviving, he is thriving.​ Most people call him "Miracle Man" but I call him "Lazarus." Every medical professional ​we​ have spoken to about my husband's story all agree that he should not be alive at all. At one point a neurologist told me he would be a vegetable because his CT scans were so bad, but ​Marion​ has no deficits and no brain damage.​ He returned to work full time three months after the heart attack, which was over a year ago. One of the things I prayed for was that God would do His work through the hands of the doctors and nurses who cared for Marion. I truly believe that he only survived by the Grace of God.​ I believe he lived to prove that God exists, and there are still miracles performed in the world. So really, learning that his heart has improved that much really isn't a stretch for us - very unlikely, but possible. Sometimes science can't explain miracles. We sure do have our team stumped. That's why I am seeking information about LVAD removal for patients like Marion. They are intrigued but unsure about what to do. I need to give them data so that they will explore explant options. He may still have to get a heart transplant, but we want to keep his real heart if possible. So many things can go wrong with transplants, and a transplanted heart may only last up to 20 years if we are very lucky. We would rather somebody who really needed it get the heart instead. Want to know more about our story? Look us up on Facebook @MarionTheMiracleMan
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Fred T.

Hi- there r 3 LVAD catogories 1-bridge to transplant 2-destination 3- recovery Rocovery 1to 5% ET 45 or above Heart starts to compete w/ LVad Numerous hospital will explant Good book: “the 1% solution” Hope this helps God Bless