Infection in remnant of left ventricular assist device after successful separation from assisted circulation.

There have been two long-term and two short-term survivors among 10 patients in our hospital in whom the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was implanted for cardiogenic shock after cardiac operations. Two of these four patients developed graft infection in the LVAD remnants left attached to the ascending aorta and left ventricle; one died of sepsis and the other required repeat operations for a chronic draining sinus and hemorrhage from a left ventricular--cutaneous fistula. This experience with infection and demonstration of the feasibility of total removal of both limbs of the LVAD without cardiopulmonary bypass lead us to recommend complete removal of the LVAD conduits in patients weaned from assisted circulation.