Paul Subroto, Owens Christopher D, Singh Harbinder, Belkin Michael, Couper Gregory S, Shekar Prem
Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006 Feb;25(2):253-5. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2005.08.021. Epub 2006 Jan 4.
The presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) can be a contraindication to placement of a HeartMate left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for end-stage heart failure. We describe a 65-year-old patient who underwent endovascular repair of an AAA before placement of a LVAD as destination therapy for end-stage heart failure. This case is the first report of endovascular AAA repair before VAD placement. It not only demonstrates the utility of endovascular AAA repair in patients with undue co-morbidities, but also that the presence of an AAA should not be a contraindication to LVAD placement, if corrected.
