Embracing the Future of Surgery: Gastric Cancer Resection Within One Month of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been implanted recently, with increasing frequency, to treat advanced heart failure with good survival rates. Since heart failure is most prevalent in patients above 70 years of age, LVAD implantations are increasing particularly in this cohort. On the other hand, due to a higher incidence of malignant tumors in the elderly population, there is a significant cohort of patients having concurrent indications for LVAD implantation. Herein, we report a case of complicated gastric malignancy that was encountered soon after the implantation of an emergent LVAD with ensuing treatment difficulties and ethical considerations. Keeping in mind the fairly high life expectancy for both groups, there is a predisposition to the notion that simultaneous procedures can and should be applicable to a selected group of patients with end-stage heart failure.