title: Total knee arthroplasty in patients with a left ventricular assist device.
abstract: Many patients with severe cardiac disease can now live for a prolonged period with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), and some patients will develop noncardiac medical issues that may benefit from surgical intervention. Previous studies have reported a low rate of complications in patients with LVADs undergoing noncardiac surgical procedures. We report the cases of 2 patients with LVADs who underwent total knee arthroplasties for osteoarthritis. Both patients had significant pain relief and improved function; however, management of anticoagulation and bleeding complications was challenging.
authors.affiliation: Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Garrett R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male