Telecardiographic measurements for device migration: A useful tool for follow-up

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Pump thrombosis in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Inflow cannula migration is a predisposing factor for pump thrombosis. Telecardiographic measurements can be usedto follow up apical cannula deviation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the migration of the inflow cannulas in patients withLVADs using angle measurements on telecardiogramsMETHODS: Twenty-three patients who were implanted left ventricular assist devices in our clinic between February 2013 andApril 2016 were included in our study. During the first year of follow-up, changes in angle measurements on postoperative$1^{st},;3^{rd},;6^{th},;and;12^{th}$ month telecardiograms were compared against the incidence of device thrombus and serum LactateDehydrogenase (LDH) levels.RESULTS: Patients who were diagnosed with device thrombosis had more change in inflow cannula angles than patientswithout device thrombus (p