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: Tags: Case Conference Source Type: research