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Lookup NU author(s): Karen Booth, Dr Asif Shah, Dr Gareth Parry, Dr Guy MacGowanORCiD, Dr Stephan Schueler
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© The Author(s) 2019.Introduction and objectives: Pump thrombosis is a serious left ventricular assist device complication, though there are no guidelines regarding its treatment. The main aim of this study was to describe a strategy of intravenous anticoagulation as the initial treatment in these patients and then to compare intravenous heparin with bivalirudin. Methods: All consecutive patients who received a HeartWare left ventricular assist device from July 2009 to March 2019 were retrospectively analysed. Patients developing a pump thrombosis were selected, and treatment, outcomes and complications were recorded. Results: During this period of time (116 months), 220 patients underwent HeartWare left ventricular assist device implantation and 57 developed pump thrombosis, with an incidence rate of first pump thrombosis of 0.17 events per patient-year of support (incidence rate of all episodes of pump thrombosis: 0.30 events per patient-year of support). All the patients were initially treated medically, predominantly with either intravenous heparin (n = 26) or bivalirudin (n = 16). Patients treated with bivalirudin during the first pump thrombosis episode had less subsequent re-thrombosis episodes (18.7% vs 57.7%, p < 0.05). In addition, percentage time in therapeutic range was greater for bivalirudin compared with heparin (68.5% ± 16.9% vs 37.4% ± 31.0%, p < 0.01). During the first pump thrombosis episode, 26.3% of the patients needed surgery (left ventricular assist device exchange (n = 8), transplant (n = 6) or decommissioning (n = 1)). The overall survival at 1 year was 61.4%, and there was no significant difference in survival. Conclusion: Left ventricular assist device thrombosis is a serious life-threatening complication; hence, we propose an initial conservative management of pump thrombosis with enhanced intravenous anticoagulation with either intravenous heparin or bivalirudin, with surgery reserved for refractory cases.
Author(s): Bouzas-Cruz N, Gonzalez-Fernandez O, Ferrera-Duran C, Woods A, Robinson-Smith N, Tovey S, Jungschleger J, Booth K, Shah A, Parry G, MacGowan GA, Schueler S
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Journal of Artificial Organs
Year: 2019
Volume: 43
Issue: 7
Pages: 444-451
Print publication date: 01/07/2020
Online publication date: 30/12/2019
Acceptance date: 27/11/2019
ISSN (print): 0391-3988
ISSN (electronic): 1724-6040
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0391398819896585
DOI: 10.1177/0391398819896585
PubMed id: 31885316
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