title: 18F-FDG PET/CT in the Diagnosis and Management of Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Infections: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.
abstract: Implantable continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used in end-stage heart failure treatment as a bridge-to-transplant and destination therapy (DT). However, LVADs still have major drawbacks, such as infections that can cause morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, appropriate diagnosis of LVAD-related and LVAD-specific infections can be very cumbersome. The differentiation between deep and superficial infections is crucial in clinical decision-making. Despite a decade of experience in using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) to diagnose various infections, its use in LVAD patients remains scarce. In this case series, we review the current evidence in literature and describe our single center experience using F-FDG PET/CT for the diagnosis and management of LVAD infections.
authors.forename: Sakir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.forename: Rahat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muslem
authors.forename: Alina A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Constantinescu
authors.forename: Olivier C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Manintveld
authors.forename: Ozcan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Birim
authors.forename: Jasper J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Brugts
authors.forename: Alexander P W M
authors.initials: APWM
authors.lastname: Maat
authors.forename: Alida C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Fröberg
authors.forename: Ad J J C
authors.initials: AJJC
authors.lastname: Bogers
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caliskan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18