Long distance travel, including air flight, is possible for patients who have mechanical heart devices, according to researchers at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill.

In a study that has been presented at several national and international scientific meetings, investigators analyzed the experience of 15 patients who had been implanted with left ventricular assist (LVAD) devices as permanent support for their failing hearts and who had later traveled a combined 40 long distance trips, defined as trips exceeding 200 miles.  Four of the trips had been international, 35 within the continental United States and one to Hawaii.

Only five complications occurred during these trips, including one case of dehydration and one instance of a device alarm associated with bearing wear in the pump.  Two of the patients required care at outside hospitals; three readily received treatment upon returning home. No complications were reported concerning patients' management of warfarin (an anti-coagulant medication), diabetes or the ability to manage pump batteries and power sources.

An increasing number of patients who have end-stage heart failure and are not candidates for heart transplantation are receiving LVADS as destination therapy (permanent support).  As these patients "resume their normal, daily routines, they are increasingly requesting to travel," the Christ Medical Center LVAD research team indicated.   

Travel is equated with quality of life.  "If [LVAD] patients feel better and are living longer, but remain 'tethered' to their homes, then [that limitation] will [minimize] the applicability [of LVAD therapy] to younger age groups," researchers said.

Although the study found national and international travel for extended periods of time to be both feasible and safe in an older population, the researchers cautioned that long distance travel does require "detailed preparations and coordination."  Those preparations should include contact with the ventricular assist device center closest to the patient's travel destination and the requirement that patients carry with them the names and contact numbers of these LVAD facilities, needed prescriptions and directions to local laboratories if electrolyte or warfarin monitoring is necessary.  Patients also need to be aware of possible issues involving power sources for their LVADS and manipulation of their pumps in public.

For those traveling by air, advance arrangements with the designated airline are advisable to guarantee an airline attendant or security officer will be available to escort the patient through registration, security and the boarding process, researchers stated.

"Anticipating potential problems and possible solutions are key components to ensure safe travel for patients with ventricular assist devices," the researchers said.

They added that more study will be needed "to determine common, travel-related complications and generate practical solutions ensuring successful outcomes." 

Christ Medical Center is the nation's number one center in the use of LVAD therapy for patients with severely failing hearts.