Arteriovenous malformation and gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device

J Heart Lung Transplant. 2011 Aug;30(8):849-53. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2011.03.008. Epub 2011 Apr 29.

Abstract

Background: In this study we investigated gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and its relationship to arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in patients with the continuous-flow HeartMate II (HMII) left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Methods: The records of 172 patients who received HMII support between November 2003 and June 2010 were reviewed. Patients were considered to have GI bleeding if they had 1 or more of the following symptoms: guaiac-positive stool; hematemesis; melena; active bleeding at the time of endoscopy or colonoscopy; and blood within the stomach at endoscopy or colonoscopy. The symptom(s) had to be accompanied by a decrease of >1 g/dl in the patient's hemoglobin level. The location of the bleeding was identified as upper GI tract, lower GI tract or both according to esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, small-bowel enteroscopy or mesenteric angiography. Post-LVAD implantation anti-coagulation therapy consisted of warfarin, aspirin and dipyridamole.

Results: Thirty-two of the 172 patients (19%) had GI bleeding after 63 ± 62 (range 8 to 241) days of HMII support. Ten patients had GI bleeding from an AVM; these included 3 patients who had 2 bleeding episodes and 2 patients who had 5 episodes each. Sixteen patients had upper GI bleeding (10 hemorrhagic gastritis, 4 gastric AVM, 2 Mallory-Weiss syndrome), 15 had lower GI bleeding (6 diverticulosis, 6 jejunal AVM, 1 drive-line erosion of the colon, 1 sigmoid polyp, 1 ischemic colitis) and 1 had upper and lower GI bleeding (1 colocutaneous and gastrocutaneous fistula). All GI bleeding episodes were successfully managed medically.

Conclusions: Arteriovenous malformations can cause GI bleeding in patients with continuous-flow LVADs. In all cases in this series, GI bleeding was successfully managed without the need for surgical intervention.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / complications*
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / epidemiology*
  • Erythrocyte Transfusion
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / epidemiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasma
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thromboembolism / prevention & control
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / therapy*
  • Withholding Treatment
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anticoagulants