Cavitation in left ventricular assist device patients: a potential early sign of pump thrombosis

Heart Failure Reviews volume 25, pages965–972(2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Mechanical ventricular support with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has emerged as a durable and safe therapy, both as bridge-to-transplant (BTT) or destination therapy (DT), in patients with advanced heart failure (HF). However, the occurrence of pump thrombosis (PT) still represents a serious complication, especially when LVADs of first or second generation are implanted. During the latest years, some investigations have recognized the occurrence of cavitation, evidenced through transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), as a potential early and indirect sign of PT. In the present manuscript, we reviewed the available data on the occurrence of cavitation in LVAD patients as an early potential marker of PT, also presenting the hemodynamic mechanisms involved.

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Abbreviations

BTT:

Bridge-to-transplant

DT:

Destination therapy

HITS:

High-intensity transient signals

LVAD:

Left ventricular assist device

LVEDD:

Left ventricular end diastolic diameter

P:

Pressure

PT:

Pump thrombosis

PV:

Vapor pressure

TCD:

Transcranial Doppler

TTE:

Transthoracic echocardiography

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Section of Internal and Cardiopulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Marco Zuin

  2. Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Endoluminal Interventions Unit, Rovigo General Hospital, Rovigo, Italy

    Gianluca Rigatelli

  3. Division of Cardiology, Adria General Hospital, Rovigo, Italy

    Gabriele Braggion

  4. Department of Cardiology, Porto Viro Hospital, Porto Viro, Rovigo, Italy

    Daniela Bacich

  5. Cardiovascular Research, Methodist Hospital, Merrillville, IN, USA

    Thach Nguyen

Authors
  1. Marco Zuin
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  2. Gianluca Rigatelli
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  3. Gabriele Braggion
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  4. Daniela Bacich
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  5. Thach Nguyen
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Correspondence to Gianluca Rigatelli.

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Zuin, M., Rigatelli, G., Braggion, G. et al. Cavitation in left ventricular assist device patients: a potential early sign of pump thrombosis. Heart Fail Rev 25, 965–972 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-019-09884-0

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Keywords

  • Left ventricular assist device
  • Pump thrombosis
  • Cavitation
  • Microbubbles
  • Echocardiography