Long-Term Complications of Ventricular Assist Devices

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Abstract

Heart failure is a common and growing cause of death in the Western world. Mechanical cardiac assist devices are being used with increasing frequency to treat this disorder. Results are have been promising. Continuous-flow pump technology has largely replaced the older pulsatile-flow technology. However, continuous-flow devices have several long-term potential complications that occur after the initial perioperative implantation which still limit their use. The commonest potential complications include pump thrombosis, the need for pump replacement, stroke, thromboembolic events, bleeding, and infection. The etiology of these complications is becoming increasingly well understood. This chapter will review these complications, their etiology, and treatment.

Keywords

Left ventricular assist device Cardiac failure Heart-assist devices Stroke von Willebrand disease 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Texas Heart Institute, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUSA

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