Current management and perspectives in the treatment of ventricular assist device-specific infections.

Al Shakaki M¹, Rotering H¹, Mastrobuoni S², Welp H¹, Dell’Aquilia AM¹

¹Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany;
²Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Universite’ Catholique du Louvain, Bruxelles, Belgium

Occurrence of ventricular assist device (VAD)-specific infections is a serious complication that can jeopardize on the long run the effectiveness of VAD therapy. In the light of ongoing shortage of organ available for heart transplantation there will be in the next future an increase necessity of conservative strategies. A multidisciplinary approach including cardiac surgeons, cardiologist, infectious disease (ID) consultant and nuclear medicine physicians should be the first step for the diagnosis and treatment of VAD-specific infections. Early detection of infections and consequently early treatment with innovative strategies may help physicians to improve outcomes.

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