Conversion of the HVAD Left Ventricular Assist Device to the Centrimag Using a Customized Apical Plug

Left ventricular assist device thrombosis is a potentially life-threatening complication often managed acutely with device exchange. In the absence of modifiable risk factors recurrent thrombosis can occur. Recent changes in the heart allocation policy have reduced left ventricular assist device complications from top priority to status 3. In this report we present a patient with recurrent left ventricular assist device thrombosis. Given no modifiable risk factors and recurrence of thrombosis, the HeartWare HVAD ((Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN)) was converted to a temporary Centrimag device device (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL) using a novel plug through the existing sewing ring. With status 2 listing the patient was successfully transplanted on postoperative day 3.