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<article article-type="abstract" dtd-version="1.0" xml:lang="en" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">
<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">CC</journal-id>
<journal-id journal-id-type="nlm-ta">Cardiol Croat</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>Cardiologia Croatica</journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="pubmed">Cardiol. Croat.</abbrev-journal-title>
</journal-title-group>
<issn pub-type="ppub">1848-543X</issn>
<issn pub-type="epub">1848-5448</issn>
<publisher><publisher-name>Croatian Cardiac Society</publisher-name></publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">CC 2024 19_1-2_47</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.15836/ccar2024.47</article-id>
<article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Extended Abstract</subject></subj-group>
<subj-group subj-group-type="subheading"><subject>Cardiovascular Surgery</subject></subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Nursing care of patients after left ventricular assist device implementation</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2926-1258</contrib-id><name><surname>Jur&#x010D;i&#x0107;</surname><given-names>Dragana</given-names></name><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1">*</xref></contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2092-5396</contrib-id><name><surname>Grubi&#x0161;i&#x0107;</surname><given-names>Milka</given-names></name></contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6077-1802</contrib-id><name><surname>Filar</surname><given-names>Paula</given-names></name></contrib>
<aff id="aff1"><institution>Dubrava University Hospital</institution>, <addr-line>Zagreb</addr-line>, <country country="hr">Croatia</country></aff>
</contrib-group>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="cor1"><label>*</label>ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Dragana Jur&#x010D;i&#x0107;, Klini&#x010D;ka bolnica Dubrava, Avenija Gojka &#x0160;u&#x0161;ka 6, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia. / Phone: +385-99-422-398 / E-mail: <email xlink:href="jurcicdragana@gmail.com">jurcicdragana@gmail.com</email></corresp></author-notes>
<pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="electronic"><month>10</month><year>2023</year></pub-date>
<pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="print"><month>10</month><year>2023</year></pub-date>
<volume>19</volume>
<issue>1-2</issue>
<fpage>47</fpage>
<lpage>47</lpage>
<history>
<date date-type="received"><day>29</day><month>09</month><year>2023</year></date>
<date date-type="accepted"><day>07</day><month>10</month><year>2023</year></date>
</history>
<permissions>
<copyright-statement>Croatian Cardiac Society</copyright-statement>
<copyright-year>2023</copyright-year>
<copyright-holder>Croatian Cardiac Society</copyright-holder>
</permissions>
<kwd-group kwd-group-type="author"><title>KEYWORDS: </title><kwd>advanced heart failure</kwd><kwd>left ventricular assist device</kwd><kwd>nursing care</kwd></kwd-group>
</article-meta>
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<body>
<p>The use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in the treatment of advanced heart failure (HF) has grown exponentially in the last 15 years. The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is today the most used therapeutic option for MCS in patients with advanced HF. It is used in carefully selected patients as bridging therapy until heart transplantation or destination therapy. The care of this group of patients is complex and requires an individual approach from a multidisciplinary team. The paper will present key aspects of nursing care for patients after LVAD implantation. Caring for LVAD patients is a challenge in nursing and requires specific knowledge and a range of skills. Nurses have an important role in monitoring vital functions, taking care of the exit site and immobilizing the percutaneous cable, controlling INR, and applying anticoagulant therapy, as well as continuous monitoring of the parameters of the pump and daily checks of the device and accompanying apparatus. The role of the nurse in the education of the patient and family is emphasized, as is the role in achieving optimal mobilization and independence, as well as providing psychological and emotional support. Through continuous monitoring, education, and support, nurses play an important role in improving the quality of life of patients. Also, teamwork and a multidisciplinary approach are essential in achieving comprehensive and individualized care for patients with LVAD. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="r1"><italic>1</italic></xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="r2"><italic>2</italic></xref>)</p>
</body>
<back>
<ref-list>
<title>LITERATURE</title>
<ref id="r1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Breathett</surname><given-names>K</given-names></name><name><surname>Allen</surname><given-names>LA</given-names></name><name><surname>Ambardekar</surname><given-names>AV</given-names></name></person-group>. <article-title>Patient-centered care for left ventricular assist device therapy: current challenges and future directions.</article-title> <source>Curr Opin Cardiol</source>. <year>2016</year> May;<volume>31</volume>(<issue>3</issue>):<fpage>313</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>20</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1097/HCO.0000000000000279</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">26890085</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
<ref id="r2"><label>2</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Ben Gal</surname><given-names>T</given-names></name><name><surname>Ben Avraham</surname><given-names>B</given-names></name><name><surname>Milicic</surname><given-names>D</given-names></name><name><surname>Crespo-Leiro</surname><given-names>MG</given-names></name><name><surname>Coats</surname><given-names>AJS</given-names></name><name><surname>Rosano</surname><given-names>G</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Guidance on the management of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) supported patients for the non-LVAD specialist healthcare provider: executive summary.</article-title> <source>Eur J Heart Fail</source>. <year>2021</year> October;<volume>23</volume>(<issue>10</issue>):<fpage>1597</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>609</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1002/ejhf.2327</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">34409711</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
</ref-list>
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</article>
