title: Management of LVAD Patients for Noncardiac Surgery: A Single-Institution Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experience regarding the perioperative management of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) who require anesthesia while undergoing noncardiac surgery (NCS) at a single medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with LVADs
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records from April 1, 2009 through January 31, 2014 were reviewed for patients who underwent Heartmate II LVAD placement at this facility. Individual records were reviewed for NCS after LVAD placement, specifically investigating perioperative and anesthetic management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-one patients underwent LVAD placement during this time period. Thirty-five patients (49%) underwent a total of 101 NCS procedures. Arterial catheters were placed in 19 patients (19%), and 33 patients (33%) were intubated for their procedure. No complications or perioperative mortality occurred related to the NCS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Noncardiac surgery is becoming more common in patients with LVADs. Anesthetic management of these patients outside of the cardiac operating room is limited. Patients with Heartmate II LVADs can safely undergo noncardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Electronic address: nelsonew@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Eric W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heinke
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finley
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Guldan
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Parker
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaddy
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthew Toole
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mims
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Abernathy
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: heart failure; left ventricular assist device; noncardiac surgery