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Updated: Sep 8, 2025

Implantation of the Syncardia Total Artificial Heart
Published on: July 18, 2014
Management of a chronically infected left ventricular assist device with heart transplantation: Two-step simplified
Enrique Pérez-de la Sota1, Andrea Eixerés-Esteve1, Dolores García-Cosio2
1Cardiac Surgery Department, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Avenida de Córdoba s/n, Madrid, Spain.
Background:
The surgical approach for the treatment of a left ventricular assist device with severe infection may be controversial.
Material & Methods:
We present the case of a patient implanted with a HeartWare™ HVAD as a bridge to transplant and chronic infection of the device by Pseudomonas who underwent a conservative partial treatment of the driveline tunnel and subsequently a heart transplantation and device removal were done.
Conclusions:
The two-step simplified approach allowed the patient to be transplanted in a short period of time, with the abdominal wall healed and almost two-thirds of the driveline subcutaneous tunnel sterilized.
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