Elective Noncardiac Surgery in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices

As the number of heart failure patients supported with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) increases, the frequency of elective, noncardiac surgery in this patient population will similarly rise. We retrospectively analyzed our LVAD patient database and identified six patients who underwent elective, noncardiac surgery while on LVAD support. These cases are discussed, with an emphasis on the anesthetic and perioperative considerations. These patients have an acceptable risk profile for elective surgery and should be treated similarly to their age-matched counterparts not on LVAD support. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2012.01515.x (J Card Surg 2012;27:639-642)