Late driveline left ventricular assist device infection treated with frozen-and-thawed allogeneic platelet gel

Abstract

In this case report, we report the application of frozen-and-thawed allogeneic platelet gel (PLT-gel) to treat a late driveline exit site infection in a 56-year old patient supported by a Heartware-HVAD left ventricular assist device. The treatment duration was 4 weeks and at the follow-up the skin around the exit site was free from further infection. PLT-gel can be used to treat local infection of the driveline exit site and to prevent further high-risk infections. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.