Transesophageal Echocardiography Diagnosis of Extracardiac Left Ventricular Assist Device Inflow Cannula Obstruction in a Patient with Thoratec Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device Biventricular Support

• DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2007.08.049
• Publication Date: 2007-11-14T17:59:11Z
• Authors: Jonathan Frogel; Srilatha Vodur; Jiri Horak
• Keywords: Adult; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Male; Cardiac Catheterization; Pulmonary Edema; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Equipment Failure; Heart-Assist Devices; Echocardiography, Transesophageal

Ventricular assist device support for heart failure has gained popularity as both a bridge to heart transplantation and as destination therapy. Early device malfunction is unusual and can be caused by several distinct mechanisms. We present the first reported case of echocardiographic diagnosis of extracardiac cannula obstruction leading to biventricular assist device failure.