When used as a bridge to transplantation, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) support heart failure patients who are too sick to wait for a donor heart to be located. The LVAD allows the heart to rest, heal, and grow stronger before the stress of transplant surgery. On average, patients remain on a LVAD for four to six months prior to transplantation. If their health permits, they can return home from the hospital during that time and resume limited activities.
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