ECHO 2013 / Echocardiography in Advanced Heart Failure Mechanical Support

Tandem Heart

•Exclude LA thrombus pre-device placement

•Guide transseptal placement of cannula

•Assess cannula position and function

Echocardiography in LVADs

•Important roles

–Pre-implant

–Post-implant

–Feasibility of weaning

–Detection of complications

Cardiac transplantation - role of echo

•Identifying eligible candidates

•Monitoring post-op phase

–Acute

•Complications

–acute rejection, surgical complications (bleeding, etc)

–Chronic

•Right heart remodeling, PA pressure

•Rejection

–LV systolic function, myocardial edema

–LV diastolic function (restrictive pattern is a function of immunosuppressive regimen)

•Coronary vasculopathy

–Stress echo