A pump surgically implanted in patients with severe heart failure to move blood from the left ventricle to the ascending aorta. The LVAD usually augments the heart’s function until it heals (following a severe myocardial in farction) or until a heart transplant becomes available (e.g., for patients with heart failure with a markedly diminished ejection fraction). The LVAD also may be used permanently for a patient who does not meet criteria for transplantation.