Randy Travis Gets an LVAD

 Recently, country music star Randy Travis was hospitalized with viral cardiomyopathy. Unlike reported previously, he did not undergo heart surgery. Randy received the Impella pump, a left ventricular assist device-LVAD. The Impella comes in several models, all of which are inserted percutaneously or minimally invasively through various arteries into the left ventricle.

The device is temporary, however, and is meant to allow the heart to rest and recover.

Theoretically, if the heart continues to worsen, the next step would be to receive a larger LV pump, which can be permanent or temporary, serving as a bridge to heart transplantation.

Viral cardiomyopathy is an episode of heart failure caused by the same viruses responsible for upper respiratory tract infection, gastrointestinal distress, and other common conditions.

About 40% of people with viral cardiomyopathy will experience spontaneous recovery," said Clyde Yancy, MD, chief of cardiology at Northwestern University in Chicago and a former president of the American Heart Association.

The rest of the July 10^th article can be found at this address Randy Travis LVAD