Authors

• Ružica Mrkonjić — University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-4454-7708

Keywords

heart failure, mechanical support, complications

DOI

Full Text

**Introduction:** Device for mechanical circulatory support are becoming real alternative to heart transplants because of continuous increases in number of patients with heart failure and insufficient heart donors. (1) Many efforts have been made to optimize the technical design, flow characteristics and durability of the devices. Although the technology is now at a high level, there are still problems relating to the nature of the device. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a major problem and 19-40% of patients with implanted support suffer from that problem. Another problem is thromboembolic events that may result in neurological complications, with overall incidence of stroke of about 10%. The overall incidence of pump thrombosis is 2 -5%, and infection of the exit line of percutaneous cable is 10%. (2) **Case report:** Case of the patients in cardiogenic shock placed on extra corporeal membrane oxygenation followed by LVAD implantation and two years there after she is able to sustain her personal and professional activities, says that there is real need for mechanical support, but also the need for further improvement of device. Despite the continuous reduction in the incidence of complications related to device some questions remain unanswered, and better biocompatibility is the biggest question. **Conclusion:** Most patients with implanted mechanical support do not have any problems, and according to most patients quality of life with mechanical support is good, but there is still a certain percentage of patients with serious problems.

Literature

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2. Nienaber JJ, Kusne S, Riaz T, Walker RC, Baddour LM, Wright AJ, et al. Clinical manifestations and management of left ventricular assist device-associated infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2013;57(10):1438–48. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cit536