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LVAD Outflow Cannula Occlusion with Thrombus and Native Aortic Valve Opening

LVAD Outflow Cannula Occlusion with Thrombus and Native Aortic Valve Opening▶ Watch on YouTube — age-restricted, cannot embed here

Imaging findings

Gated cardiac CT demonstrates complete thrombotic occlusion of the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) outflow cannula, with thrombus propagating into the pump itself. Crucially, the native aortic valve is observed opening with every cardiac beat, indicating significant LVAD dysfunction due to the outflow obstruction.

Key takeaways

Complete thrombotic occlusion of an LVAD outflow cannula is a serious complication leading to pump failure. A key indicator of LVAD dysfunction is the opening of the native aortic valve during systole, which should normally remain closed due to the continuous flow provided by a properly functioning LVAD. Gated CT is invaluable for assessing both cannula patency and native valve dynamics.

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