Inflow cannula position as risk factor for stroke in patients with HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist devices.

Background: A relation between the left ventricular assist device inflow cannula (IC) malposition and pump thrombus has been reported. This study aimed to investigate if the pump position, derived from chest X-rays in HeartMate 3 (HM3) patients, correlates with neurological dysfunction (ND), ischemic stroke (IS), hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and survival.

Methods: This analysis was performed on routinely acquired X-rays of 42 patients implanted with a HM3 between 2014 and 2017.