Replacement of a malfunctioning HeartMate II left ventricular assist device in a 14-year-old after a sudden fall.
An increasing number of patients are returning to normal activity after implantation of intracorporeal left ventricular assist devices. We describe the emergency replacement of the impeller portion of a HeartMate II left ventricular assist system that had stopped functioning after the 14-year-old recipient experienced a sudden fall from a skateboard.
La Francesca
Saverio
S
Department of Cardiopulmonary Transplantation, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas 77225-0345, USA.
Smith
Ron
R
Gregoric
Igor D
ID
Kar
Biswajit
B
Myers
Timothy J
TJ
Price
Jack
J
Kennedy
Damon
D
Frazier
O H
OH
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000293:Adolescent; D020878:Device Removal; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D019233:Retreatment