Symptoms and signs compatible with exercise intolerance (light headedness, severe intolerable dyspnea, chest pain or discomfort, tachycardia and exaggerated blood pressure response |
Symptomatic hypotension (fainting, dizziness, or diaphoresis, as extreme fatigue or claudication and new onset of neurological changes) |
Supine resting heart rate > 100 beats per minute |
Oxygen saturation < 90% |
VAD complications during or after exercise sessions |
a. VAD alarm : Significant drop in LVAD flow, suction alarm |
b. Complex and frequent ventricular arrhythmia on exertion |
c. Infection, mainly at the driveline site |
d. Evidence of bleeding |
e. Thrombus |
Request of VAD recipient to stop |
Increase >1.8 kg in body mass over the previous 1 to 3 days |
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator intervention |