title: Preemptive axillo-axillary placement of percutaneous transseptal ventricular assist device to facilitate high-risk reoperative cardiac surgery.
abstract: We describe preemptive placement of a TandemHeart percutaneous left ventricular assist device (CardiacAssist Inc, Pittsburgh, PA) through the axillary artery and vein for temporary postoperative support in a patient with severe left ventricular dysfunction undergoing high-risk cardiac reoperation. We believe this approach is preferable to high-dose catecholamines because of preserved early tissue perfusion without excessive vasoconstriction. Axillo-axillary placement is advantageous because patients can sit up and partially mobilize, and there is no need to reopen the chest for explantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA. anelechi.anyanwu@mountsinai.org
authors.forename: Anelechi C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Anyanwu
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalman
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Plotkina
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinney
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001366:Axillary Artery; D001367:Axillary Vein; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors