Intensive care experiences of patients with implanted left ventricular assist devices: a qualitative study

Patients with left ventricular assist device implants experience unique physical, emotional, and psychosocial experiences during their intensive care unit period. Despite studies on patients’ long-term experiences after implantation, very little is known about their intensive care unit experiences. This patients with LVAD implants study aimed to explore the experiences of patients who have undergone implantation of a left ventricular assist device during the intensive care unit period. This qualitative study employed a descriptive qualitative design. The study was conducted with six patients with left ventricular assist device implants at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of a university hospital in Izmir, Türkiye. The study was conducted and reported in accordance with the COREQ guideline. The patients included in the study ranged in age from 44 to 60 years. All patients had a left ventricular assist device implanted as a bridge to transplantation. As a result of this study, four themes were identified: “struggling with the intensive care unit environment after left ventricular assist device implantation,” “perception of the device’s presence,” “perception towards healthcare professionals,” and “impact on life and outlook for the future.” In general, patients described the intensive care unit period as a very challenging period, both physically and emotionally. They stated that they experienced both physical and psychosocial difficulties in adapting to the presence of the device. They also emphasized the importance of effective communication with healthcare professionals during the care process. Patients reported significant changes in their lives and outlook on the future after device implantation. These findings reflect the experiences of patients with left ventricular assist device implants who were clinically stable and able to participate in interviews. This study revealed the multifaceted intensive care unit experiences of patients with left ventricular assist devices implants. Improving physical comfort, effective communication, and psychosocial support are recommended for improving intensive care unit experiences.