If a patient with an LVAD meets trauma or stroke alert criteria, what should be done?

• A. Transport them to the appropriate receiving facility and LVAD center
• B. Transport them to the LVAD center only
• C. Transport them to the appropriate receiving facility
• D. Notify the LVAD manufacturer

Answer: (A)

In LVAD patients, trauma or stroke alerts require destination care to that center which can provide both advanced trauma stabilization and LVAD-specific management. These patients rely on the device for cardiac output, so any injury or acute change could affect device function, anticoagulation balance, or bleeding risk. A facility with an LVAD program can immediately assess the device—checking power, controller status, and alarms—while also delivering the necessary trauma or neurovascular care. Transporting to a center that lacks LVAD expertise risks delays in diagnosing device issues or complications, and simply routing to a generic trauma center may miss the specialized device management needed.

Therefore, the best approach is to transport to the appropriate receiving facility that also has LVAD capabilities. This ensures swift stabilization, access to multidisciplinary teams, and prompt LVAD-specific assessment and intervention. Notifying the manufacturer doesn’t address the immediate need for appropriate on-scene and on-arrival care.