Acquired Aortic Cusp Fusion After Chronic Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

Javier E. Banchs, Buddhadeb Dawn, Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Asma Qureshi, Neil Agrawal, Michael Bouvette, Marcus F. Stoddard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Explanted hearts from patients with chronic left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support have shown the presence of aortic cusp fusion, which results in valvular stenosis and may complicate weaning of a LVAD. This is the first report of aortic cusp fusion diagnosed solely by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in vivo in a patient on chronic LVAD support. Under intraoperative TEE guidance, a 41-year-old woman underwent an attempted explantation of a LVAD, which had been implanted 8 months before for dilated cardiomyopathy. When LVAD support was discontinued, previously normal left ventricular function deteriorated, and aortic stenosis from aortic valve cusp fusion was documented by TEE. The explantation procedure was abandoned. This case demonstrates the utility of intraoperative TEE in the evaluation of aortic valvular anatomy and function in patients wtih chronic LVAD support.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1401.e1-1401.e3
JournalJournal of the American Society of Echocardiography
Volume19
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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