A Rare Complication of HVAD Outflow Thrombosis and the Importance of HVAD Waveform Analysis

Abstract

We present a case of a 64-year-old female who was supported with an HVAD as bridge-to-transplant (BTT) who presented with a gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy. Her waveforms changed abruptly following the procedure, and she decompensated. With various imaging modalities and hemodynamic monitoring, we felt that she had thrombus in her outflow graft, which improved following systemic heparinization. She was listed for cardiac transplantation and remained hospitalized. At the time of surgery, her outflow graft was noted to be compressed externally and pathology was consistent with platelet-fibrin thrombus deposition.