A ventricular assist system includes a ventricular assist device (“VAD”) and an expandable stent. The VAD may include a pump and an inlet element defining an inlet opening communicating with the pump, the inlet element being adapted for positioning with the inlet opening disposed within a ventricle of a heart when the system is in an operative condition. The expandable stent may be adapted for positioning within the ventricle when the system is in the operative condition. The pump may be operated to draw blood from the ventricle and return the blood to the artery, and a wall of the ventricle may be held away from the inlet opening with the stent. The stent may be passed through a channel in the ventricular assist device while the stent is in a collapsed condition.