A bridge to transplantation: The life experiences of patients with a left ventricular assist device.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is a rapidly spreading treatment given to patients with advanced heart failure due to organ donor shortage. Thus, there is a need to study the life experience of patients who underwent LVAD implantation as a bridge to transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To examine the life experiences of patients who underwent LVAD implantation as a bridge to transplantation. METHODS: This qualitative, phenomenological research was carried out with 13 patients who underwent LVAD implantation as a bridge to transplantation. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. Interviews were recorded through an audio recorder, transcribed verbatim, and evaluated using the inductive content analysis method. RESULTS: Two main themes (fear and coping), each with four sub-themes, were obtained after data were analyzed. Participants' fears and coping strategies for these were identified. CONCLUSION: In this study, fears and coping strategies came to the forefront in the life experiences of patients who underwent LVAD implantation as a bridge to transplantation.