title: Complete atrioventricular block decreases left ventricular assist device flow rate.
abstract: A 52-year-old man, living at home, had been on left ventricular assistance for 15 months with a Novacor pump (Worldheart, Ottawa, ON, Canada). Following the onset of effort dyspnea that had recently become worse, he was admitted to the hospital. A review of the pump showed that its flow rate had significantly decreased. An electrocardiogram showed a third-degree atrioventricular block. A pacemaker was implanted and the patient became asymptomatic immediately afterwards. This clinical case report shows the importance of satisfactory right ventricle filling in these patients. Right ventricle filling can be impaired by conduction disorders.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, La Timone University, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Collart
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dieuzaide
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kerbaul
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mouly-Bandini
authors.forename: Thierry G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Mesana
mesh_terms: D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006327:Heart Block / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000601:surgery; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000601:surgery*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right