When LVAD Patients Die: The Caregiver's Mourning

摘要: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have progressively evolved, particularly in the last 10 years, to serve patients affected by severe heart failure as a bridge transplant or destination therapy. The survival rate and quality of life pre- postimplant patients, well caregivers' perceptions distress, are under investigation scientific community. But what caregivers think feel after loss their loved one has not so far been examined. We contacted 16 principal deceased LVAD telephone. They were asked evaluate experience with LVADs administered specific questionnaire about mourning, Caregiver Mourning Questionnaire (CMQ), physical, emotional, social support-related problems that they had experienced during previous 3 months. Positive aspects reported patient's overall subjective well-being increased survival. Negative difficulty manage infections driveline, incomplete autonomy patient. Half being preadvised many would face. CMQ revealed numerous health problems, sleeping, eating disorders, lack energy, loneliness. Use psychotropic drugs regrets how assisted also emerged. In conclusion, may complicated mourning. Our data support particular need for an early intervention palliative care which could prevent reduce