Successful treatment of pump pocket infection after left ventricular assist device implantation by negative pressure wound therapy and omental transposition

Abstract

A 52-year-old man suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy underwent implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) insertion as a bridge to transplantation. He presented with evidence of LVAD-related mediastinitis and pump pocket infection 57 days after the LVAD implantation. The mediastinum was reopened and irrigated. A large amount of pus was observed around the outflow and inflow conduits and in the pump pocket. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was initiated. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated from blood and mediastinal pus. Enterobacter cloacae was also isolated by mediastinal pus culture after the beginning of the NPWT. Three weeks after the start of the NPWT, the pus culture became negative, and omental transposition and sternal closure were performed. Intravenous antibiotics were administered until day 42, with the treatment subsequently switched to oral antibiotics. He was discharged from the hospital on day 57 and followed up at the outpatient clinic. Our findings suggest that NPWT followed by omental transposition be useful to treat mediastinitis or pump pocket infection after implantable LVAD insertion.