title: Use of retrospectively gated CT angiography to diagnose systolic LVAD inflow obstruction.
abstract: Assessment of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) can be challenging, and multiple modalities are sometimes necessary to arrive at the accurate diagnosis. We describe two patients with persistent heart failure symptoms after HeartMate II LVAD placement. After initial evaluation was unrevealing, retrospectively gated computed tomographic angiography (CTA) was used to diagnose partial inflow obstruction, leading to important changes in management. We describe the techniques and role of retrospective gating and discuss functional assessment by CT as well as future applications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA. dacharya@uab.edu
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Taimoor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kirklin
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.forename: Salpy V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Pamboukian
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tallaj
authors.forename: Renzo Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Loyaga-Rendon
authors.forename: Satinder P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000628:therapy; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000628:therapy; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D013599:Systole; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media