title: Improved technique to diagnose a patent foramen ovale during left ventricular assist device insertion.
abstract: Diagnosis of a patent foramen ovale prior to left ventricular assist device placement can be quite difficult, and if missed may result in a significant hypoxemia due to a right to left shunt. We describe a simple and precise way to increase the diagnostic accuracy of patent foramen ovale detection prior to initiating cardiopulmonary bypass for left ventricular assist device placement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Rana E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Majd
authors.forename: Minoo N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kavarana
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouvette
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Dowling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male