Late aortic dissection in a patient with a left ventricular assist device.
The limited availability of donor hearts means that an increasing number of transplantation candidates are temporarily or permanently supported by mechanical circulatory assist devices. We report a patient undergoing implantation of a Novacor left ventricular assist device who suffered fatal aortic dissection on postoperative day 11 after satisfactory recovery from multiple organ failure. The dissection of the aorta initially presented as an embolic peripheral ischemia. Early complete echocardiography is thus warranted to rule out dissection.
Dworschak
M
M
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Wiesinger
K
K
Lorenzl
N
N
Wieselthaler
G
G
Wolner
E
E
Lassnigg
A
A
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications