Intragastric driveline transposition of a left ventricular assist device: a case report

Implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is increasingly utilized, prolonging survival of patients with advanced heart failure. We herein report a severe complication of gastric perforation with an intragastric transposition of an LVAD driveline (DL). The patient was admitted to interdisciplinary surgery, where the DL was successfully removed from the stomach and the gastric perforation addressed by performing an atypical gastric resection. This is the first reported case of an intragastric transposition of DL and LVAD pump of a HeartMate II LVAD. This case underscores the importance of interdisciplinary efforts in the treatment of LVAD associated complications as well as regular gastrointestinal monitoring in LVAD patients.