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Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: August 16, 2021
Decommissioning of Durable Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Ryaan El-Andari1, Holger Buchholz1, Jennifer Conway2
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract:
Cardiac recovery following durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is the ideal outcome for heart failure patients. Traditionally, the durable LVAD has required explantation. We describe our single-centre experience with LVAD decommissioning. LVAD decommissioning involved making a sternotomy or sub-xiphoid incision, ligating the outflow graft, and removing the driveline by transecting the driveline inside and outside of the chest. Six patients underwent durable LVAD decommissioning from 2017-2024. One patient had a HeartWare (Medtronic, Galway, Ireland) device, 3 patients had a HeartMate II (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL), and 2 patients had a HeartMate 3 (Abbott). All patients were successfully decommissioned and discharged without mechanical circulatory support.
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Tracheostomy Decannulation
Description of the Procedure
Decannulation refers to the permanent removal of the tracheostomy tube, signaling the resolution of the condition that initially necessitated the tracheostomy. The process requires a well-coordinated interplay between...