Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
07:39
Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: August 16, 2021
A novel method for percutaneous insertion of a right ventricular assist device
Dimitrios V Avgerinos1, William DeBois, Linda Mongero
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA.
The Journal of Extra-Corporeal Technology
|August 13, 2013
Summary
A percutaneously inserted right ventricular assist device (RVAD) offers a safe and effective option for urgent right heart support. This minimally invasive technique can be life-saving in critical postoperative patients, facilitating recovery and discharge.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Right heart failure is a rare but serious complication in pre- and postoperative cardiac patients.
- Traditional surgical right ventricular assist device (RVAD) insertion is time-consuming and requires reoperation for removal.
Observation:
- An 81-year-old female experienced sudden cardiovascular collapse post-valve replacement due to severe right heart failure.
- A bedside transesophageal echocardiogram confirmed severe right heart failure, and coronary angiography revealed right coronary artery thrombosis.
Findings:
- A percutaneously inserted RVAD was successfully deployed as a bridge to recovery, leading to immediate clinical improvement.
- The patient's right heart function recovered, the RVAD was removed at the bedside, and she was discharged home in complete recovery.
Implications:
- Percutaneous RVAD insertion is a viable, safe, and rapid option for managing urgent right heart failure.
- Further clinical experience is needed to establish percutaneous RVADs as a standard alternative to open surgical methods.
