Successful treatment of acute left ventricular assist device thrombosis and cardiogenic shock with intraventricular thrombolysis and a tandem heart

ASAIO J. 2015 Jan-Feb;61(1):98-101. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000000149.

Abstract

Management for continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) thrombosis often relies on speculation of individual clinical risk factors and integration of indirect evidence for device dysfunction. There are no comprehensive guidelines for treatment of this serious complication, and most of our current knowledge comes from anecdotal experience or observational study. More data on effective treatment, both with aggressive pharmacologic and device-based interventions, are needed for improving our understanding of mechanisms driving device thrombosis and for preventing future events. We present a case of LVAD thrombosis with emphasis on recognition and treatment of acute pump thrombosis, and discuss a potentially novel strategy using percutaneous mechanical circulatory support for pump salvage.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Heart-Assist Devices / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / drug therapy
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / etiology*
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / therapy*
  • Thrombolytic Therapy*
  • Thrombosis / drug therapy
  • Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Thrombosis / therapy*
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator