Concomitant aortic valve repair for aortic insufficiency and implantation of left ventricle mechanical support

Abstract

Background: Moderate to severe aortic valve insufficiency (AI) in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a significant complication which occurs in up to 10.7% of patients in the INTERMACS database and has profound consequences for survival. Preoperative Impella use is associaed with greater post-LVAD AI. Case Presentation: 56 y/o Caucasian female with acute exacerbation of chronic congestive heart failure who needed urgent Impella placement followed by elective Heartmate III LVAD. Conclusion: Patients who have aortic valve regurgitation at the time of implantation have been handled by several methods, including aortic valve leaflets approximation, to aortic valve replacement or even valve closure. We report a case of geometric ring annuloplasty for repair of a regurgitant aortic valve during destination LVAD implantation.