There have been several reports of right-to-left shunting through patent foramen ovale (PFO) after implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The atrial pressure changes after assist implantation leading to revelation of undetected PFOs may cause severe systemic hypoxemia. A percutaneous closure approach has been shown to be an adequate therapy option in patients with LVAD. We report a successful interventional occlusion of a PFO with right-to-left shunt in a patient with biventricular HeartWare® ventricular assist device (HVAD) support.
LuermansJ.G., PostM.C., TemmermanF.Is a predominant left-to-right shunt associated with migraine?: A prospective atrial septal defect closure study. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv.2009; 74(7): 1078–1084.
2.
BaldwinR.T., DuncanJ.M., FrazierO.H., WilanskyS.Patent foramen ovale: a cause of hypoxemia in patients on left ventricular support. Ann Thorac Surg.1991; 52(4): 865–867.
3.
ShapiroG.C., LeibowitzD.W., OzM.C., WeslowR.G., Di TullioM.R., HommaS.Diagnosis of patent foramen ovale with transesophageal echocardiography in a patient supported with a left ventricular assist device. J Heart Lung Transplant.1995; 14(3): 594–597.
4.
LiaoK.K., MillerL., ToherC.Timing of transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosing patent foramen ovale in patients supported with left ventricular assist device. Ann Thorac Surg.2003; 75(5): 1624–1626.
5.
LoforteA., VioliniR., MusumeciF.Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale for hypoxemia during left ventricular assist device support. J Card Surg.2012; 27(4): 528–529. Epub ahead of print
6.
NguyenD.Q., DasG.S., GrubbsB.C., BolmanRMIII, ParkS.J.Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale for hypoxemia during left ventricular assist device support. J Heart Lung Transplant.1999; 18(10): 1021–1023.
BakerJ.E., StratmannG., HoopesC., DonateilloR., TsengE., RussellI.A.Profound hypoxemia resulting from shunting across an inadvertent atrial septal tear after left ventricular assist device placement. Anesth Analg.2004; 98(4): 937–940.
9.
KilgerE., StromC., FreyL.Intermittent atrial level right-to-left shunt with temporary hypoxemia in a patient during support with a left ventricular assist device. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand.2000; 44(1): 125–127.
10.
KrabatschT., PotapovE., StepanenkoA.Biventricular circulatory support with two miniaturized implantable assist devices. Circulation.2011; 124(11 Suppl): S179–S186.