Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in a COVID-19 Positive Patient

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID) in patients with advanced heart failure presents unprecedented challenges in management of cardiogenic shock. Recommendations for perioperative triaging of cardiac surgery have been proposed but none regarding LVAD implantation. To our knowledge, we are the first to report on LVAD implantation in a patient with COVID and cardiogenic shock CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old-male with Stage D, NYHA class IV heart failure on chronic milrinone was admitted for cardiogenic shock. Despite uptitration of milrinone and addition of dobutamine,the patient remained in cardiogenic shock . Our Selection Committee discussed and approved him for an LVAD. Institutional protocol required COVID screening prior to surgery and returned positive. Given the absence of clinical signs of COVID infection contrasted with the severity of shock, the decision was made to proceed with implantation. Temporary mechanical support was considered but not thought to mitigate risks of thrombosis rather adding procedural risk with ECMO cannulation and left ventricular unloading. He successfully underwent LVAD implantation as INTERMACS 1. He required high doses of heparin to achieve ACT for cardiopulmonary bypass. On day 2, he developed left-sided weakness with imaging revealing multifocal acute cerebral infarcts. Despite normal LVAD function, the embolic infarcts to multiple organs led to further deterioration and death SUMMARY: LVAD implantation in COVID patients appears inevitable. Centers must risk stratify this cohort to reduce susceptibility to thrombosis and improve outcomes. We propose an algorithm that triages patients for elective and urgent LVAD implantation based on specific coagulation and inflammatory markers (figure 1) and have successfully implanted an LVAD in a COVID patient using this. We acknowledge this method has not been validated in a large cohort and are unable to recommend anticoagulation protocols. Further research is necessary to address safety of LVAD implantation in COVID patients