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Massive air embolism resulting in ischemic stroke after left ventricular assist device implantation
Author(s) -
Bansal Aditya,
Akhtar Faisal,
Zwintscher Nathan P.,
Bansal Arnav,
Verma Arjun,
Sabharwal Vivek
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cardiac surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1540-8191
pISSN - 0886-0440
DOI - 10.1111/jocs.14222
Subject(s) - medicine , ascending aorta , air embolism , ventricular assist device , cannula , cardiology , embolus , suction , embolism , stroke (engine) , surgery , aorta , heart failure , complication , mechanical engineering , engineering
We present the first case of ischemic stroke secondary to massive air embolus during implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The patient experienced a suction event at the time of aortic cannula removal. Despite the use of all standard deairing techniques and flooding the operative field with continuous‐flow carbon dioxide, a significant amount of air was delivered into the ascending aorta through the LVAD pump.