Ventricular fibrillation in an ambulatory patient supported by a left ventricular assist device: highlighting the ICD controversy. ASAIO J 2012;58(2):170-3
Date
03/01/2012Pubmed ID
22370689DOI
10.1097/MAT.0b013e3182434feaScopus ID
2-s2.0-84858152237 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 19 CitationsAbstract
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) provide an effective means of managing advanced pump failure as a means of bridging to cardiac transplantation or as permanent therapy. Although ventricular arrhythmias remain common post-LVAD implantation, such therapy may allow malignant arrhythmias to be tolerated hemodynamically. This report describes the clinical findings in a patient who had likely been in a ventricular tachyarrhythmia for several days and presented in ventricular fibrillation, ambulatory, and mentating normally. This report, with previous similar reports, is additive to the body of evidence that LVADs alter the physiologic impact of ventricular arrhythmias in advanced heart failure and highlights the need for thoughtful programming of implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapies in these patients.
Author List
Boilson BA, Durham LA, Park SJAuthor
Lucian A. Durham MD, PhD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedHeart-Assist Devices
Humans
Male
Ventricular Fibrillation
