End-stage heart failure is more often treated with Implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD), even if the prolonged use may increase the risk of complications. In this case, a 51-year-old male patient presented to our emergency department showing acute heart failure signs and symptoms and a dramatic reduction of LVAD flow. Laboratory tests ruled out significant haemolysis, usually associated with pump thrombosis. The echocardiogram and the computed tomography were not able to clarify the correct diagnosis. We immediately placed a veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, followed by a selective retrograde angiography of the pump. The images showed stenosis of the LVAD-outflow graft, suggesting a twist. Through a handmade J-tip guidewire, we performed multiple dilatations of the occlusion using peripheral balloons. Finally, we implanted an aortic coarctation covered-stent, re-establishing an adequate cardiac output to the patient. Our case indicates that catheter-based approach in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation assistance provides an important therapeutic alternative to treat outflow graft stenosis, especially in the case of acutely unstable patient.
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) obstruction can be a dramatic and life-threatening complication in patients with advanced heart failure (HF). Despite surgical redo is often required in these patients, it is associated with a high risk of periprocedural negative outcome. We report the case of a 68-year-old male with a thrombotic stenosis of the LVAD proximal outflow-graft. Following Heart Team debate, a percutaneous intervention was planned during veno-arterial Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) assistance. To achieve the needed catheter support, we used the “distal balloon anchoring technique” through the outflow-graft and managed to implant a covered stent, rapidly restoring the flow through the LVAD. The patient was discharged without further complications. Our case shows that, in selected cases, percutaneous treatment of LVAD obstructions can be feasible, especially using advanced techniques derived from the experiences in coronary interventions and under ECMO assistance. More cases and prospective studies are mostly needed to explore long-term patency of the LVADs and clinical outcomes in these high-risk patients.
In this paper, we describe a rare case of coronary artery aneurysms occasionally found on a pre interventional Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography performed on a 67-year-old man with a history of aneurysm of the ascending aorta previously treated with Bentall surgery, who arrived at our hospital to have a percutaneous valve-in-valve implantation procedure. Even though the patient was considered not eligible for the procedure, due to his many comorbidities, and conservatively managed, at 1-year followup his angiographic condition remained stable.
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