LVADs & Kidney Health: Balancing Risks and Benefits

In this insightful CardioNerds episode, Dr. Amit Goyal and Dr. Sonu Abraham chat with Dr. Brian Houston and Dr. Nisha Bansal about the delicate interplay of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and renal dysfunction. They break down LVAD basics, candidacy criteria, and explore how acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease influence outcomes. The discussion highlights critical decision-making around patient selection, dialysis modalities, vascular access, and anemia management and outlines prognostic tools, such as the HeartMate 3 Risk Score.