External compression due to seroma of ventricular assist device outflow graft

J Artif Organs. 2021 Jun;24(2):258-260. doi: 10.1007/s10047-020-01199-4. Epub 2020 Aug 10.

Abstract

A 45-year-old woman with repaired complex congenital heart disease, who underwent placement of Jarvik 2000, a ventricular assist device (VAD) for 4 years, experienced abdominal pain due to outflow graft compression caused by seroma formation between the outflow graft and ringed Gore-Tex graft. We exchanged the pump of Jarvik 2000 and punched several small holes in the new ringed Gore-Tex graft. Seroma formation between the two grafts should be considered as a cause of outflow graft obstruction in patients with the long-term support of VAD, and additional surgical interventions to the ringed Gore-Tex graft may prevent this complication.

Keywords: Complex congenital heart disease; Left ventricular assist device; Outflow graft obstruction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / diagnosis
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Abdominal Pain / surgery
  • Constriction, Pathologic / diagnosis
  • Constriction, Pathologic / etiology
  • Constriction, Pathologic / surgery
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / congenital
  • Heart Failure / surgery
  • Heart-Assist Devices / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene / adverse effects
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Seroma / diagnosis
  • Seroma / etiology*
  • Seroma / surgery
  • Transposition of Great Vessels / complications
  • Transposition of Great Vessels / surgery
  • Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / diagnosis
  • Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / etiology
  • Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / surgery

Substances

  • Polytetrafluoroethylene