Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(2):126-133

The value of transthoracic echocardiography in patients with left ventricular assist devices

Dlesk A, Lesný P, Beňačka O, Gonçalvesová E

Kardiologická klinika LFUK a NÚSCH, a. s., Bratislava, Slovenská republika

Progress in the development of left ventricular assist devices in the last decade has resulted in a constantly increasing number of patients with these devices. Although this therapeutic modality is reserved for a small number of patients with advanced heart failure, an increasing number of left ventricular assist device implantations causes these patients to be seen more often by cardiologists in various health care providers due to a worsening health condition for various reasons. Further improvement and miniaturization of these devices is expected in the near future, which will allow their wider use. Transthoracic echocardiography plays a key role in the rapid and correct identification and subsequent treatment of complications associated with left ventricular assist devices. Examination by a physician with lack of experience in this area can be quite stressful and difficult. In our opinion it is necessary to bring the principles of echocardiographic examination closer to these specialists. Specific aspects of echocardiographic examination of potential candidates for left ventricular assist device implantation, as well as key elements of echocardiography in the early postoperative period and long-term follow-up, are discussed in this paper.

Keywords: left ventricular assist device; heart failure; echocardiographic examination

Published: February 1, 2021  Show citation