Fluoroscopy and selective angiography of left ventricular assist system inflow cannula as a method of detecting cannula entrapment.

Left ventricular assist systems have become an important tool as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. Malfunction of these devices often leads to clinical and hemodynamic deterioration. One potential complication is the obstruction of the inflow cannula secondary to remodeling of the left ventricular cavity. We report two cases where fluoroscopy and selective angiography were used to visualize the orientation and obstruction of the inflow cannula when echocardiographic findings were indeterminant.