title: Technique for minimizing and treating driveline infections.
abstract: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly utilized in the management of advanced heart failure. A transcutaneous driveline is necessary to power the LVAD, and although this technology has improved over the years in terms of smaller size and increased durability, driveline complications continue to develop in up to 20% of all devices implanted. Driveline infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. As more patients live longer with ventricular assist devices, minimizing driveline infections is paramount. A systematic, multidisciplinary approach can be used to develop a strategy to prevent, recognize and treat driveline infections. In this paper, we describe our approach to driveline management which has resulted in zero driveline infections between January 2012 and March 2014.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, 2 Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Leora T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Yarboro
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, 2 Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bergin
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, 2 Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie L W
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, 2 Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Carole C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ballew
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, 2 Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Benton
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, 2 Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Gorav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ailawadi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, 2 Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kern
keywords: Circulatory support; heart failure; perioperative care; quality care management