Intracardiac echocardiography for diagnosis and management of left ventricular assist device inlet obstruction.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become more important in the management of patients with advanced heart failure. New generation rotary blood pumps demonstrated survival benefits and improved functional status and quality of life in these patients. Although a variety of relevant advances have been achieved in the field of device technology, the risk of severe complications remains. In this report, we describe the application of intracardiac echocardiography in the management of postoperative LVAD complications.