Thoratec HeartMate II® left ventricular assist device implantation in patient with patent ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Abstract

We report a case of HeartMate II® left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation as a destination therapy in a patient with a patent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt after being suffered from subarachnoid hemorrhage. Because the patient's VP shunt was running through her right anterior chest and abdominal wall, a driveline exit site was selected in her left upper quadrant to avoid unnecessary perioperative complication in relation to the patent VP shunt tube. Tailored driveline placement was a key element of this LVAD implantation in this already sick patient with multiple comorbidities. © 2012 The Editorial Committee of Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. All rights reserved.