Laparoscopic repair of large diaphragmatic hernia after left ventricular assist device implantation followed by orthotopic heart transplantation.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Chin, Kevin; Ward, Marc A.; Meyer, Dan M.; Sanchez, Christine E.; Leeds, Steven G.
- Source
- Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings (BAYLOR UNIV MED CENT PROC), Jan2022; 35(1): 101-103. (3p)
- Subject
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 0899-8280
In patients with advanced heart failure and deteriorating clinical status, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can be used as a bridge to transplantation or as an alternative to transplantation. An uncommon complication of orthotopic heart transplant or LVADs is diaphragmatic hernia during implantation or explantation of the device. We describe a patient with a diaphragmatic hernia with incarcerated colon and small bowel treated previously with a HeartMate 3 LVAD and subsequent transplantation. This case highlights the need to consider the diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia based on symptoms after HeartMate 3 implantation and/or subsequent transplantation, as well as the ability to manage these hernias with a minimally invasive laparoscopic approach to minimize postoperative morbidity and mortality.