左心室輔助器運用於終身使用之護理

Nursing Care of the Left Ventricular Assist Device for Destination Therapy

末期心臟衰竭病人的治療首選為心臟移植，病人於等待階段如發生急速惡化，或因年齡或其它器官因素被排除於心臟移植名單時，可利用機械性體外循環系統(mechanical circulatory support)支撐到心臟移植或成為終身使用者。國內心室輔助器過去僅於短期過渡到心臟移植時使用，尚無終身使用案例。本文藉亞洲第一例終身使用Incor軸心式左心室輔助器成功個案分享其適應症與術後護理照護經驗。

Heart transplant remains the primary choice of treatment in end stage heart failure. If the patient deteriorates in a waiting list or is excluded from transplant because of age or comorbidity, mechanical circulatory support could be deployed for bridging to transplant or destination therapy. Ventricular assist device has been used for short-term bridging strategy but never for destination in Taiwan before. We reported the first successful destination therapy of axial pump left ventricular assist device (Incor) in Asia and shared our experiences of nursing care in the patient and the device.