An unexpected surgical complication of ventricular assist device implantation identified by transesophageal echocardiography: a case report

• Published in: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography Vol. 16; no. 11; p. 1194
• Main Authors: Pu, Min, Stephenson, Jr, Edward R, Davidson, Jr, William R, Sun, Benjamin C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-11-2003
• Subjects: Aorta - diagnostic imaging; Aorta - pathology; Aorta - surgery; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Coronary Artery Bypass - instrumentation; Coronary Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Stenosis - surgery; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Heart Ventricles - pathology; Heart Ventricles - surgery; Heart-Assist Devices - adverse effects; Humans; Intraoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Intraoperative Complications - etiology; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Infarction - surgery; Shock, Cardiogenic - diagnostic imaging; Shock, Cardiogenic - surgery; Ventricular Septal Rupture - diagnostic imaging; Ventricular Septal Rupture - surgery
• ISSN: 0894-7317
• DOI: 10.1067/S0894-7317(03)00636-9

Ventricular assist devices are used for circulatory support for patients with cardiogenic shock and refractory heart failure. Although early and late complications of left ventricular assist devices have been reported, we report a rare surgical complication of a left ventricular assist device implantation. This unexpected surgical complication was accurately identified by transesophageal echocardiography.