title: Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Thrombosis: A Danger Foreseen is a Danger Avoided.
abstract: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are an increasingly implemented therapeutic intervention for patients with end-stage heart failure. A growing body of evidence, however, has shown an elevated risk of device thrombosis, a major complication jeopardizing the patient's post-implantation survival. To date, multiple causative factors for LVAD thrombosis have been identified, such as internal shear stress, device material, infection, and inadequate anticoagulation. Understanding the mechanisms leading to LVAD thrombosis will not only enable device optimization, but also allow for better patient handling, hence improving post-implantation outcome. In this review we highlight the most commonly identified factors leading to LVAD thrombosis and discuss their mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, Middlesex, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Javid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fatullayev
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samak
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, Middlesex, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabashnikov
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, Middlesex, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeriouh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Parwis B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Rahmanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Yeong-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart and Marfan Center, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bastian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmack
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart and Marfan Center, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kallenbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart and Marfan Center, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Arjang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruhparwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Kaveh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eghbalzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Pascal M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dohmen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart and Marfan Center, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karck
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wippermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wahlers
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, Middlesex, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aron-Frederik
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Popov
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, Middlesex, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andre R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, Middlesex, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weymann
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left