Mechanical Circulatory Assist Devices:
Series 1 Left Ventricular Assist Device
Teaching LVADs to non-cardiac surgery teams involves breaking down complex cardiac concepts into accessible, scenario-based learning. The focus should be on familiarizing teams with the basic LVAD components (pump, driveline, controller, and power source), vital sign interpretation (especially understanding non-pulsatile flow), and emergency management, including what to do in device alarms, hypotension, and cardiac arrest. The teaching curriculum is divided into brief, modular segments to optimize comprehension and retention.