title: Echocardiography for Less-Invasive Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Devices.
abstract: New surgical techniques aim for less-invasive implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) via small surgical incision sites. Echocardiography plays an important role during patient selection and guidance of the procedure. The surgical incision site can be identified preoperatively by transthoracic echocardiography. Intraoperative identification of left ventricular apex, de-airing, and monitoring heart function is performed by transesophageal echocardiography. This article highlights special echocardiographic considerations during less-invasive LVAD implantation surgeries.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany; and †Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Magunia
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schlensak
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schibilsky
authors.forename: Jan N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Hilberath
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosenberger
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak-Machen
mesh_terms: D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D004452:Echocardiography; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male