Salvage of externally exposed ventricular assist devices.
Although externally exposed ventricular assist devices are associated with extremely high mortality rates, salvage may be accomplished by early aggressive wound debridement, transposition of a well-perfused autologous tissue (such as omentum), dead space obliteration, and adequate external coverage using vascularized tissue. The temporary suppression rather than the total eradication of the infection should be the goal of these procedures.
Turowski
G A
GA
Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass 02115, USA.
Orgill
D P
DP
Pribaz
J J
JJ
Eriksson
E
E
Couper
G S
GS
D000328:Adult; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps