• Jasmin S Hanke, Sebastian V Rojas, Günes Dogan, Christina Feldmann, Erik Beckmann, Ezin Deniz, Bettina Wiegmann, Jana-Elena Michaelis, L Christian Napp, Dominik Berliner, Malakh Shrestha, Johann Bauersachs, Axel Haverich, and Jan D Schmitto.
• Department of Cardiac-, Thoracic-, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
• Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2017 May 1; 51 (5): 887-892.

ObjectivesLeft ventricular assist device (LVAD) exchange is becoming a standard surgical procedure. The exchange procedure is an opportunity to upgrade patients to a new generation pump that offers advanced reduction of adverse events or longer battery hours.MethodsWe performed an analysis of 6 consecutive patients who underwent LVAD exchange to HeartMate 3 either from a HeartWare or HeartMate (HM) II device. Minimally invasive operations were performed through a lateral thoracotomy. Follow-up time was 6 months after LVAD exchange.ResultsWe present 4 patients with the HM II and 2 patients with the HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD) who underwent LVAD exchange to HM III. The average age was 57.5 years. At the time of the LVAD exchange, all patients were classified as Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support level 3. In 5 cases, LVAD infection led to LVAD exchange (83%, 5/6). The remaining patient underwent LVAD exchange due to pump thrombosis (16%, 1/6). The 6-month survival rate after LVAD exchange was 100% (6/6). None of the patients was postoperatively supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. No patient experienced postoperative relevant bleeding. One patient suffered minor cerebral bleeding (16.6%, 1/6). At the 6-month follow-up examination, 1 patient reported a single syncope and several low-flow alarms (1/6). The remaining 5 patients showed no adverse events or technical malfunctions of the VAD (5/6).ConclusionsLVAD exchanges from HM II as well from HVAD to HM 3 are proven to be technically feasible. Due to the advantages and technical improvements of the new-generation pumps, this procedure is an excellent opportunity to give patients access to a superior generation of assist device.© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

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