Late bleeding from right internal mammary artery after HeartMate left ventricular assist device implantation. Ann Thorac Surg 2004 Aug;78(2):689-91
Date
07/28/2004Pubmed ID
15276550DOI
10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01383-3Scopus ID
2-s2.0-3242799881 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 9 CitationsAbstract
Postoperative bleeding is one of the major complications after implantation of left ventricular assist devices. We experienced 5 unusual cases, which had bleeding from the right internal mammary artery between 5 and 69 days after implantation of a HeartMate (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA) device. It was evident that the outflow graft had eroded through the vessel. Sudden decreases in device flow, hypotension, bleeding from the driveline or chest tube sites, and a drop in hematocrit were the initial manifestations. Chest roentgenogram and transthoracic echocardiography were effective in identifying hemothorax and cardiac tamponade. Four out of 5 patients survived to heart transplantation and were discharged from the hospital. When identified and treated appropriately, this complication does not impair patient outcome.
Author List
Kohmoto T, Oz MC, Naka YAuthor
Takushi Kohmoto MD, PhD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAnticoagulants
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
Aspirin
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated
Combined Modality Therapy
Fatal Outcome
Heart Transplantation
Heart-Assist Devices
Heparin
Hodgkin Disease
Humans
Hypotension
Male
Mammary Arteries
Middle Aged
Myocardial Ischemia
Myocarditis
Osteotomy
Pleural Effusion
Postoperative Hemorrhage
Radiation Injuries
Sternum
Thoracotomy
Thrombocytopenia
