An intracardiac shunt in a patient undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation
Upon the initiation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), the left side of the heart is decompressed, in some instances establishing a right-to-left interatrial pressure gradient. This pressure gradient is further compounded in the setting of pulmonary hypertension and/ or right ventricular dysfunction. Therefore, to minimize the risk of a right-to-left intracardiac shunt, hypoxemia and paradoxical embolization, interatrial communications are often closed in patients undergoing implantation of a durable LVAD.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Christopher J Scheiber, Emily G Teeter, Alan M Smeltz Tags: Case Conference Source Type: research
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