HeartMate II implantation in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II

Anna Lassia Meyer1, Doris Malehsa, Christian Kuehn

  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Diverse anticoagulation protocols are used in patients after implantation of ventricular assist devices. No consensus exists, especially in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II. In a patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II, we implanted a left ventricular assist device (HeartMate XVE; Thoratec, Pleasanton, CA). Thirteen months later the device had to be replaced due to mechanical failure with a HeartMate II left ventricular assist device. We report on our successful protocol of perioperative anticoagulation management using heparin and iloprost during surgery and argatroban thereafter.

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