Non-Surgical Resolution of Inflow Cannula Obstruction of a Left Ventricular Assist Device: A Case Report

• Published in: Journal of chest surgery Vol. 54; no. 6; pp. 543 - 546
• Main Authors: Lee, Yoonseo, Sung, Kiick, Kim, Wook Sung, Jeong, Dong Seop, Shinn, Sung Ho, Cho, Yang Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 05.12.2021; Korean Society for Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery; 대한흉부외과학회
• Subjects: Case Report; embolism and thrombosis; heart-assist devices; thrombosis; ventricular assist devices; 흉부외과학; Case report; Ventricular assist devices; Heart-assist devices; Thrombosis; Embolism and thrombosis
• ISSN: 2765-1606; 2765-1614
• DOI: 10.5090/jcs.21.075

A 55-year-old woman who had received an implantable left ventricular assist device 3 months earlier presented with dyspnea and a low-flow alarm of the device. Computed tomography and log-file analysis of the device system suggested inflow cannula obstruction. Since the patient had cardiogenic shock due to pump failure, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was initiated. With ECMO, surgical exchange of the pump was considered. However, the obstruction spontaneously resolved without surgical intervention. It turned out that an obstructive thrombus was washed out by rebooting the pump. Moreover, the thrombus was embolized in the patient's left subclavian artery. The patient underwent heart transplantation 4 months after the pump obstruction accident and continued to do well.