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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998; 46(3): 154-156
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1010214
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Successful Treatment of a Novacor LVAD Malfunction Without Repeat Sternotomy

D. Hammel, D. T. Tjan, H. H. Scheld, Ch. Schmid, M. Loick1 , M. C. Deng
  • Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Medicine, Westphalian Wilhelms University, Münster, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

1998

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Implantable left-ventricular assist devices have been remarkably free of mechanical failures. We describe an uncommon Novacor N100 PC© LVAS malfunction caused by an internal short circuit of the device due to urine aspiration via the vent line. Device replacement was managed via a subcostal approach without sternotomy. Patient recovery was uneventful and successful transplantation was performed one month after the device exchange.

Key words

Implantable LVAD - Malfunction - Subcostal approach - Reimplantation

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