AI Article Synopsis

  • The HeartMate 3, a left ventricular assist device, has shown great success in improving patient outcomes, but complications like pump thrombosis remain a concern.
  • A case study discusses a 68-year-old man who, after 19 months with the device, experienced heart failure and cardiogenic shock, with no clear diagnosis from clinical assessments.
  • Surgical exploration ultimately uncovered clots in the device, highlighting a vulnerability that the authors suggest could be addressed through minor enhancements from the manufacturer.

Article Abstract

Even if the HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device is associated with excellent outcomes, complications, such as pump thrombosis continue to affect patients on hemodynamic support. We report the history of a 68-year-old man who underwent implantation of an HeartMate 3 as a bridge to transplantation. Nineteen months later, he developed signs of heart failure leading to cardiogenic shock. Neither clinical examination nor parameters from the device allowed a clear-cut diagnosis. Only surgical exploration revealed the presence of clots between the polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron®) and polytetrafluoroethylene tubes. This constitutes a weakness of this device for which we propose to the manufacturer for minimal modifications to overcome the problem.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0267659119890218DOI Listing

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