Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) require careful therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin to prevent pump thrombosis. However, the best method to reverse warfarin for elective LVAD conversion surgery with massive bleeding remains unclear. We report the case of a 39-year-old Japanese man who was administered a four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) as warfarin reversal when he underwent conversion surgery from paracorporeal LVAD to implantable LVAD. 4F-PCC with co-administration of vitamin K reduced the international normalized ratio and R time in TEG6s (Haemonetics Corporation, USA) immediately. The effect was prolonged, and good hemostasis was achieved. 4F-PCC with vitamin K provided good hemostasis in our patient; therefore, 4F-PCC could be a useful tool for elective LVAD conversion surgery with expected massive bleeding and requiring immediate warfarin reversal.
Keywords: four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate; left ventricular assist devices; point-of-care monitoring; thromboelastography; warfarin reversal.
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