National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

A right ventricular assist device (RVAD) is designed to support the function of the right ventricle in patients with heart failure or other cardiac conditions that impair the right ventricle's function. The two primary structures where the tubes of an RVAD are located are the right atrium and pulmonary artery.

The inflow cannula of the RVAD is placed in the right atrium, where it receives deoxygenated blood from the body. This blood is then pumped by the RVAD into the pulmonary artery via the outflow cannula. The purpose is to deliver this blood to the lungs for oxygenation. This system effectively bypasses a dysfunctional right ventricle while maintaining pulmonary circulation, which is crucial for the patient’s oxygenation.

In contrast, other combinations of structures would not effectively facilitate the device's function. For instance, connecting to the aorta would not be appropriate for an RVAD, as this would pertain more to left-sided devices that assist in systemic circulation.