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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart
Published on: May 11, 2018
Unexpected Restart Failure of Durable Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Report of Two Cases
Hyo Won Seo1, Ga Hee Jeong1, Sung Min Kim1
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
The HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD) was widely used for mechanical circulatory support in patients with end-stage heart failure. However, there have been reports of a critical issue with HVAD pumps failing to restart, or experiencing delays in restarting, after being stopped. This case report describes 2 instances of HVAD failure-to-restart during heart transplantation surgery and routine outpatient care. Despite multiple attempts to restart the pump using various controllers and extensions, the HVAD failed to restart, triggering a hazard alarm for pump stoppage. In one case, the patient survived after receiving a heart transplantation, while in the other, the patient died immediately following the controller exchange. These cases highlight the rare but life-threatening complication of HVAD failure-to-restart, underscoring the importance of awareness among clinicians, patients, and caregivers, and adherence to the manufacturer's guidelines and recommendations for HVAD management.
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