Mitral commissurotomy through the left ventricle apical orifice with Heart Ware left ventricular assist device implantation.

Diseased, replaced or repaired mitral valve can lead to restricted blood flow to left ventricle and inadequate flow in left ventricular assist device (LVAD). A middle age woman with 'burnt out' hypertrophic cardiomyopathy had mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation. She needed LVAD to support severe decompensating heart failure. Repaired mitral valve posed a risk of restricted flow through the device. Mitral commissurotomy was performed on beating heart through the left ventricular apical hole created for insertion of inflow cannula of LVAD.