Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000; 48(5): 300-302
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-7872
Case Report
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Doppler-Sonographic Evidence of Cerebral Microembolism Originating from a Biventricular Assist Device

W. Buhre1 , K. Buhre1 , I. Aleksic2 , D. Zenker2 , H. Sonntag1 , A. Weyland2
  • 1Zentrum Anaesthesiologie, Rettungs- und Intensivmedizin
  • 2Klinik und Poliklinik für Thorax-, Herz- und Gefäßchirurgie, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

The use of extracorporeal assist devices in heart failure is associated with the risk of thromboembolic complications [1]. Prove of thromboembolic material in the ventricles and tubes of the assist devices is difficult, and the clinical relevance of thrombotic material in the tubes is not clear. Here, we report on a patient with severe heart failure caused by endstage dilated cardiomyopathy who was bridged to transplantation using a biventricular assist device (BVAD). Five weeks aller implantation, transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) revealed high intensity transient signals (HITS) in basal cerebral arteries, suggesting continued cerebral microembolism. Apart from a correlation of these Doppler sonographic findings with neurological symptoms, macroscopic evidence of fibrin thrombi in the artificial ventricle, and post mortem confirmation of cerebral infarction could be proved.

References

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Received for Publication: December 31,1999

Dr. med. Wolfgang Buhre

Zentrum Anaesthesiologie, Rettungs- und Intensivmedizin Universität Göttingen

Robert-Koch-Straße 40 37075 Göttingen Germany

Phone: +49-551-398899

Fax: +49-551-398676

Email: wbuhre@gwdg.de