The approach to placement of a continuous-flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricle

Background: The HeartMate 3 (HM3) has become among the most widely utilized durable left ventricular (LV) assist devices (LVAD) owing to reduced rates of pump thrombosis, bleeding, and stroke. One limitation of the HM3 is its large size, which poses a challenge for implantation in smaller LVs. Herei...

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Main Authors: Ryaan EL-Andari, MD, Josiane Dion, MD, Jennifer Conway, MD, MSc, Tara Pidborochynski, MSc, Lindsey Carter, MD, Gurmeet Singh, MD, MSc, Roderick MacArthur, MD, MSc, Steven Meyer, MD, PhD, Devilliers Jonker, MD, Darren H. Freed, MD, PhD, Holger Buchholz, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:JHLT Open
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950133425000515
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author Ryaan EL-Andari, MD
Josiane Dion, MD
Jennifer Conway, MD, MSc
Tara Pidborochynski, MSc
Lindsey Carter, MD
Gurmeet Singh, MD, MSc
Roderick MacArthur, MD, MSc
Steven Meyer, MD, PhD
Devilliers Jonker, MD
Darren H. Freed, MD, PhD
Holger Buchholz, MD
author_facet Ryaan EL-Andari, MD
Josiane Dion, MD
Jennifer Conway, MD, MSc
Tara Pidborochynski, MSc
Lindsey Carter, MD
Gurmeet Singh, MD, MSc
Roderick MacArthur, MD, MSc
Steven Meyer, MD, PhD
Devilliers Jonker, MD
Darren H. Freed, MD, PhD
Holger Buchholz, MD
author_sort Ryaan EL-Andari, MD
collection DOAJ
description Background: The HeartMate 3 (HM3) has become among the most widely utilized durable left ventricular (LV) assist devices (LVAD) owing to reduced rates of pump thrombosis, bleeding, and stroke. One limitation of the HM3 is its large size, which poses a challenge for implantation in smaller LVs. Herein, we describe a novel technique for durable LVAD implantation in patients with a small LV. Methods: Patients who underwent durable LVAD implantation from January 2020 to August 2024 were included in this study. The modified technique involved excision of the mitral valve (MV) and associated apparatus to create room for the LVAD inflow. The primary outcome was mortality, and secondary outcomes included rates of postoperative complications and hemodynamic parameters. Patient follow-up was until September 2024. Results: Eleven patients were included in this study. All patients received an HM3. The median preoperative LV end-diastolic diameter was 5.1 cm. The median total time on LVAD was 149 days, and overall mortality was 27.2% occurring a median of 204 days post-LVAD implantation. Four patients (36.4%) underwent heart transplantation and 4 (36.4%) were alive on LVAD at last follow-up. Proportions of morbidity included readmission for heart failure (n = 2, 18.2%), cerebrovascular accident (n = 2, 18.2%), and pump thrombosis (n = 0). Conclusions: The small LV has been a significant challenge for durable LVAD insertion and is often considered a contraindication. A modified approach to LVAD insertion, including excision of the MV and associated apparatus and alignment of the LVAD inflow cannula with the MV orifice, allows for LVAD implantation in patients with a small LV.
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spelling doaj-art-c90c8b9eb29d41c9a8fd71854f1ac2a92025-08-20T02:56:12ZengElsevierJHLT Open2950-13342025-05-01810025610.1016/j.jhlto.2025.100256The approach to placement of a continuous-flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricleRyaan EL-Andari, MD0Josiane Dion, MD1Jennifer Conway, MD, MSc2Tara Pidborochynski, MSc3Lindsey Carter, MD4Gurmeet Singh, MD, MSc5Roderick MacArthur, MD, MSc6Steven Meyer, MD, PhD7Devilliers Jonker, MD8Darren H. Freed, MD, PhD9Holger Buchholz, MD10Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDepartment of Cardiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDepartment of Cardiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDivision of Cardiac Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDivision of Cardiac Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDivision of Cardiac Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDivision of Congenital Cardiac Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDivision of Congenital Cardiac Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDivision of Cardiac Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Corresponding author: Holger Buchholz, MD, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Background: The HeartMate 3 (HM3) has become among the most widely utilized durable left ventricular (LV) assist devices (LVAD) owing to reduced rates of pump thrombosis, bleeding, and stroke. One limitation of the HM3 is its large size, which poses a challenge for implantation in smaller LVs. Herein, we describe a novel technique for durable LVAD implantation in patients with a small LV. Methods: Patients who underwent durable LVAD implantation from January 2020 to August 2024 were included in this study. The modified technique involved excision of the mitral valve (MV) and associated apparatus to create room for the LVAD inflow. The primary outcome was mortality, and secondary outcomes included rates of postoperative complications and hemodynamic parameters. Patient follow-up was until September 2024. Results: Eleven patients were included in this study. All patients received an HM3. The median preoperative LV end-diastolic diameter was 5.1 cm. The median total time on LVAD was 149 days, and overall mortality was 27.2% occurring a median of 204 days post-LVAD implantation. Four patients (36.4%) underwent heart transplantation and 4 (36.4%) were alive on LVAD at last follow-up. Proportions of morbidity included readmission for heart failure (n = 2, 18.2%), cerebrovascular accident (n = 2, 18.2%), and pump thrombosis (n = 0). Conclusions: The small LV has been a significant challenge for durable LVAD insertion and is often considered a contraindication. A modified approach to LVAD insertion, including excision of the MV and associated apparatus and alignment of the LVAD inflow cannula with the MV orifice, allows for LVAD implantation in patients with a small LV.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950133425000515ventricular assist deviceleft ventriclemitral valvemechanical circulatory supportheart failure
spellingShingle Ryaan EL-Andari, MD
Josiane Dion, MD
Jennifer Conway, MD, MSc
Tara Pidborochynski, MSc
Lindsey Carter, MD
Gurmeet Singh, MD, MSc
Roderick MacArthur, MD, MSc
Steven Meyer, MD, PhD
Devilliers Jonker, MD
Darren H. Freed, MD, PhD
Holger Buchholz, MD
The approach to placement of a continuous-flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricle
JHLT Open
ventricular assist device
left ventricle
mitral valve
mechanical circulatory support
heart failure
title The approach to placement of a continuous-flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricle
title_full The approach to placement of a continuous-flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricle
title_fullStr The approach to placement of a continuous-flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricle
title_full_unstemmed The approach to placement of a continuous-flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricle
title_short The approach to placement of a continuous-flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricle
title_sort approach to placement of a continuous flow intracorporeal ventricular assist device in small left ventricle
topic ventricular assist device
left ventricle
mitral valve
mechanical circulatory support
heart failure
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950133425000515
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