title: A simple method to avoid thrombus formation at the de-airing port of the acute ventricular assist device.
abstract: De-airing of the acute ventricular assist device using the designed port has resulted in thrombus formation at the site of device puncture in three of four ventricular assist devices in place during long-term (more than 72 hours) support. Disruption of the inner biomer coating by blunt needle insertion for de-airing of the prosthetic ventricle is the apparent underlying cause. Because of the obvious hazard of subsequent embolization, we describe a simple and effective method of de-airing the acute ventricular assist device with use of a jejunostomy kit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, California College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange 92668.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007582:Jejunostomy / Q000295:instrumentation; D009339:Needles; D011677:Punctures; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*