title: Carotid Doppler ultrasound findings in patients with left ventricular assist devices.
abstract: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used to treat advanced heart failure refractory to medical management, as bridge therapy to myocardial recovery, as bridge therapy to cardiac transplantation, or as destination therapy for patients with unfavorable transplant candidacy. Neurologic complications are some of the most common and devastating complications in these patients. Preoperative carotid ultrasound is, therefore, a standard evaluation in patients at risk for cerebrovascular disease. Postoperative carotid artery Doppler sonography is performed in those patients with neurologic symptoms. It is likely, therefore, that sonographers, radiologists, and other physicians working in a center where LVADs are implanted will likely encounter a carotid artery Doppler study in this patient group. To our knowledge, the carotid Doppler findings in these patients have never been published. We review the Doppler ultrasound findings in 6 patients after LVAD insertion.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cervini
authors.forename: Soon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dipesh K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Irina E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Penev
authors.forename: Bradley D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*