How do you get vital signs on a patient with an LVAD?

Question

How do you take vital signs on a patient with an LVAD and what parameters should you note down?

Answer 1

Because patient's with LVADs don't actually have a pulse most of the time you will get their blood pressures using a doppler and manual cuff. This will give you their map or doppler pressure. You can get their O2 saturation as usual but you will have the best luck using the warmest fingers or their ears. Get their heart rate as normal.

Then for each VAD you will want to log the VA settings such as SPEED, FLOW, PI and POWER. As well as if the person is on wall power or battery power, their pulses, and if they have a backup controller.