Abstract
A LVAD was used for ten patients. Of these, three cases, who had ventricular septal perforation (VSP), and one case, who had left ventricular aneurysm (LVA), were able to be weaned from the LV AD and discharged. We have studied these four cases for an extended period of time. Two VSP patients and the LVA patient are now, after 24-41 months, well and are in NYHA class 1. The remaining VSP patient, 24 months after sur-gery had protracted mediastinitis and suffered false aortic aneurysm and aortic regurgitation and died. When a LVAD is employed, because there are many chances of infection and further, because severe illness can originate from slight infection, careful monitoring of the patients after surgery is necessary. Moreover, at the time of weaning from LVAD, when suturing the aorta, it is important, as far as possible, to remove all foreign bodies because of possible danger of infection. Finally, long term observation by CT-scan or echocardiography is considered essential.
