title: "Single suture" for exposure of the heart in left ventricular assist device placement.
abstract: Using the "single suture" technique described for exposure of the heart during off-pump coronary surgery, all surfaces of the heart may be exposed with little hemodynamic compromise. Using this technique, the apex of the heart is easily elevated for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) insertion in patients with either ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy. This technique may provide the groundwork for routine placement of LVADs without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Florida, USA. kaplon@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kaplon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.lastname: Pham SiM
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Salerno
mesh_terms: D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation; D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000295:instrumentation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*