TY - JOUR
T1 - ‘Being’ a ventricular assist device recipient: A liminal existence
AU - Standing, Holly
AU - Rapley, Tim
AU - MacGowan, Guy
AU - Exley, Catherine
PY - 2017/10
Y1 - 2017/10
N2 - Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are playing an increasing role in the management of heart failure. VADs are mechanical circulatory devices that support or replace the function of a failing heart. Currently, VADs are only offered in the UK to patients waiting for a heart transplant; however, the use of these devices is likely to increase in the near future. Presently, there is a dearth of literature exploring the day-to-day realities of living with a VAD, which will become increasingly important as the role of VADs is increased.
This paper adopts an interpretive phenomenological approach to uncover the experience of ‘Being’ a VAD recipient. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 VAD recipients. The overarching theme is that life with a VAD is a liminal existence. This comprised four subthemes: the first examines how the VAD imposes limitations on recipients' lives that can precipitate a loss of identity; the second focuses on temporal disruptions, recipients' sense of time changes from authentic to inauthentic; the third explores how the VAD itself is liminal, it is positioned as temporary rather than as the ‘answer’ to the condition; and finally, we discuss VAD recipients' projections to the future and the possibility of an end to the experience of liminality.
AB - Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are playing an increasing role in the management of heart failure. VADs are mechanical circulatory devices that support or replace the function of a failing heart. Currently, VADs are only offered in the UK to patients waiting for a heart transplant; however, the use of these devices is likely to increase in the near future. Presently, there is a dearth of literature exploring the day-to-day realities of living with a VAD, which will become increasingly important as the role of VADs is increased.
This paper adopts an interpretive phenomenological approach to uncover the experience of ‘Being’ a VAD recipient. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 VAD recipients. The overarching theme is that life with a VAD is a liminal existence. This comprised four subthemes: the first examines how the VAD imposes limitations on recipients' lives that can precipitate a loss of identity; the second focuses on temporal disruptions, recipients' sense of time changes from authentic to inauthentic; the third explores how the VAD itself is liminal, it is positioned as temporary rather than as the ‘answer’ to the condition; and finally, we discuss VAD recipients' projections to the future and the possibility of an end to the experience of liminality.
KW - United Kingdom
KW - Ventricular assist device
KW - Heart failure
KW - Heart transplantation
KW - Phenomenology
KW - Liminality
U2 - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.08.016
DO - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.08.016
M3 - Article
VL - 190
SP - 141
EP - 148
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
SN - 0277-9536
ER -