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Assessment of Risks Posed to VAD Patients During Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2017

Katherine J Davis ,
Genevieve O’Shea  and
Michael Beach
Katherine J Davis*
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUSA
Genevieve O’Shea
Affiliation:
Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUSA
Michael Beach
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUSA
*
Correspondence: Katherine Davis, DNP, AGACNP-BC Suite 9D 23, 200 Lothrop St. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 15213 E-mail: KJD523@gmail.com
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Abstract

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are an Advanced Life Support for patients with heart failure. These patients are particularly vulnerable in the event of a disaster. A hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA) was conducted to determine areas of susceptibility for these patients. Lack of electrical power, limited access to medications and anticoagulation, dehydration, extreme temperature and weather environments, conditions which predispose to infection, and evacuation transport are all identified circumstances that place these patients at an increased risk for harm and death. Future preparations in disaster planning are needed to address and mitigate these risks.

DavisKJ, O’SheaG, BeachM. Assessment of Risks Posed to VAD Patients During Disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(4):457–461.

Keywords

disaster planninghazard vulnerability analysismitigation, preparednessventricular assist device
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , August 2017 , pp. 457 - 461
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2017 

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Footnotes

Conflicts of interest: none

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