title: Concomitant surgical cryoablation for refractory ventricular tachycardia and left ventricular assist device placement: a dual remedy but a recipe for thrombosis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ventricular tachycardia (VT) can persist following placement of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The optimal management strategy for VT during the peri-LVAD period is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two case reports are presented that describe epicardial and endocardial VT ablation performed during LVAD placement. Subsequently, both patients developed LVAD thrombosis, a known and dreaded complication of LVADs, requiring re-operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While LVAD thrombosis is likely multifactorial and remains an area of active research, these two cases should increase awareness of the possible risks of VT ablation-especially endocardial ablation-during LVAD placement. Further research is needed to understand the effects of VT ablation during the peri-LVAD period.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, B130, Aurora, CO, 80045, Canada. colleen.mcilvennan@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Colleen K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: McIlvennan
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Ashok N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, B130, Aurora, CO, 80045, Canada.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brieke
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, B130, Aurora, CO, 80045, Canada.
authors.forename: Amrut V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ambardekar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000601:surgery*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Ablation; Heart failure; Heart-assist device; Ventricular tachycardia