Outflow thrombus in a left ventricular-assist device: visualization by CT angiography

Balaji Krishnan; Hirad Yarmohammadi; Peter Eckman; Sirtaz Adatya

doi:10.1016/j.jcct.2014.08.002

Outflow thrombus in a left ventricular-assist device: visualization by CT angiography

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr. 2014 Nov-Dec;8(6):473-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jcct.2014.08.002. Epub 2014 Aug 19.

Authors

Balaji Krishnan¹, Hirad Yarmohammadi², Peter Eckman², Sirtaz Adatya²

Affiliations

¹ Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Mail Code 508, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. Electronic address: kris0145@umn.edu.
² Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Mail Code 508, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

PMID: 25261911
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcct.2014.08.002

Abstract

A 63-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy, ejection fraction of 15%, and status after HeartMate II implantation as a bridge to cardiac transplantation presented with presyncope and exertional dyspnea 1.5 years after implantation. After unrevealing laboratory workup and echocardiography for LVAD thrombosis, the patient underwent CT imaging. CT revealed mural thrombus in the proximal LVAD outflow cannula, a very unlikely site of thrombus, highlighting the importance of CT imaging in diagnosis of LVAD complications.

Keywords: HeartMate II; LVAD; Syncope; Thrombus.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Coronary Angiography / methods*
Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
Heart Failure / diagnosis
Heart Failure / physiopathology
Heart Failure / therapy*
Heart-Assist Devices / adverse effects*
Heparin / therapeutic use
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multidetector Computed Tomography*
Predictive Value of Tests
Prosthesis Design
Stroke Volume
Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging*
Thrombosis / drug therapy
Thrombosis / etiology
Ventricular Function, Left*

Substances

Fibrinolytic Agents
Heparin