title: The treatment of an unusual complication associated with a HeartMate II LVAD in an adolescent.
abstract: The HeartMate II LVAD has provided a bridge to heart transplantation or a permanent fixture for destination therapy for patients with heart failure. LVAD infections are associated with significant morbidity even when treated with explantation, device exchange, or a salvage procedure. We present an unusual complication following the placement of the HeartMate II device in an adolescent, whereby a pocket infection resulted in a large soft tissue defect overlying and surrounding the device. The novel use of a VRAM flap was successfully used to repair the defect and salvage the device.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. aecho@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Echo
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Jamal M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bullocks
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Morales
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps