Hemolysis and Pulmonary Insufficiency following Right Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

We report a case of severe hemolysis and pulmonary valve insufficiency (PI) following right ventricular support using a paracorporeal pneumatic pump (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA). We speculate that the high velocity jet of blood emanating from the outflow cannula caused turbulence above the pulmonary...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Case reports in transplantation 2012-01, Vol.2012 (2012), p.1-3
Main Authors: Schubert, Sarah A., Soleimani, Behzad, Pae, Walter E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bridges
Case Report
Mortality
Patients
Reynolds number
Shear stress
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We report a case of severe hemolysis and pulmonary valve insufficiency (PI) following right ventricular support using a paracorporeal pneumatic pump (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA). We speculate that the high velocity jet of blood emanating from the outflow cannula caused turbulence above the pulmonary valve, leading to PI and hemolysis. Despite the growing number of implanted ventricular assist devices, we could find no report in the literature describing pulmonary valve insufficiency secondary to right ventricular assist device (RVAD) placement. Fortunately, in this case, right ventricular function recovered sufficiently after seven days of support, allowing explantation of the device and resolution of PI and hemolysis.
ISSN:2090-6943
2090-6951
DOI:10.1155/2012/376384