Assuntos
Cardiopatias Congênitas/diagnóstico por imagem , Imagem Multimodal , Pericárdio/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto , Doenças Assintomáticas , Angiografia por Tomografia Computadorizada , Angiografia Coronária , Ecocardiografia , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Pericárdio/anormalidades , Valor Preditivo dos TestesRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Severe spontaneous bleeding is a significant complication in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices; there is little evidence on endovascular treatment to support its use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We observed seven patients (five men, two women, age 43-67 years) with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices on antiaggregant/coagulant therapy, admitted to our hospital for uncorrectable symptomatic anemia; CT-angiography and diagnostic angiography confirmed the presence of atraumatic arterious bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract (six patients), from the intercostal artery and from the bronchial tree (one patient). RESULTS: All patients where successfully treated via an endovascular approach with superselective embolization of the involved arterial branches with coils and particles. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous atraumatic bleeding is a frequent complication in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices; endovascular treatment represents a promising alternative to the surgical approach as it is less invasive, easily repeatable and associated to a reduced procedural risk.