Perioperative echocardiographic examination for ventricular assist device implantation

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are systems for mechanical circulatory support of the patient with severe heart failure. Perioperative transesophageal echocardiography is a major component of patient management, and important for surgical and anesthetic decision making. In this review we present the rationale and available data for a comprehensive echocardiographic assessment of patients receiving a VAD. In addition to the standard examination, device-specific pre-, intra-, and postoperative considerations are essential to the echocardiographic evaluation. These include: (a) the pre-VAD insertion examination of the heart and large vessels to exclude significant aortic regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, mitral stenosis, patent foramen ovale, or other cardiac abnormality that could lead to right-to-left shunt after left VAD placement, intracardiac thrombi, ventricular scars, pulmonic regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, and atherosclerotic disease in the ascending aorta; and to assess right ventricular function; and (b) the post-VAD insertion examination of the device and reassessment of the heart and large vessels. The examination of the device aims to confirm completeness of device and heart deairing, cannulas alignment and patency, and competency of device valves using two-dimensional, and color, continuous and pulsed wave Doppler modalities. The goal for the heart examination after implantation should be to exclude aortic regurgitation, or an uncovered right-to-left shunt; and to assess right ventricular function, left ventricular unloading, and the effect of device settings on global heart function. The variety of VAD models with different basic and operation principles requires specific echocardiographic assessment targeted to the characteristics of the implanted device.