Left ventricular assist devices infections

Incidence of left ventricular assist device infections... 

Pereda D, Conte JV. Left ventricular assist device driveUne infections. Cardiol Clin November 201 li29(4) 515-27. 

Maniar S, Kondareddy S, Topkara VK. Left ventricular assist device-related infections past, present and future. Expert Rev Med Devices September 2011 8(5) 627-34. 

Pae WE, ConneU JM, Adelowo A, et al. Does total implantabihty reduce infection with the use of a left ventricular assist device The LionHeart experience in Europe. J Heart Lung Transplant March 2007 26(3) 219-29. 

For long-term circulatory support in patients with advanced CFIF (mostly as bridge-to-transplantation or bridge-to-recovery, rarely as destination therapy), a mechanical left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is often required, which decreases the left ventricular afterload by creation of a cardioaortic bypass through which the blood is directly pumped from the left ventricle into the aorta. In these patients MDCT not only allows for identification of the exact position of the carmula tip of the assist device, but may also allow for the detection of local complications associated with device implantation, such as intra/cardiac thrombosis, mediastinal, pericardial, or pleural fluid or air accumulations as well as mediastinal or pulmonary infections (Jain et al. 2005 Knollmann et al. 1999 Knisely et al. 1997). 

The ventricular assist device (VAD) is a surgically implanted pump that reduces or replaces the work of the right, left, or both ventricles. Ventricular assist devices are currently indicated for short-term support in patients refractory to pharmacologic therapies, as long-term bridge therapy (a temporary transition treatment) in patients awaiting cardiac transplant, or in some instances, as the destination therapy (treatment for patients in lieu of cardiac transplant for those who are not appropriate candidates for transplantation).1 The most common complications are infection and thromboembolism. Other... 

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