18F-FDG PET/CT in the Diagnosis and Management of Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Infections: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

ASAIO J. 2018 Mar/Apr;64(2):e11-e19. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000000552.

Abstract

Implantable continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used in end-stage heart failure treatment as a bridge-to-transplant and destination therapy (DT). However, LVADs still have major drawbacks, such as infections that can cause morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, appropriate diagnosis of LVAD-related and LVAD-specific infections can be very cumbersome. The differentiation between deep and superficial infections is crucial in clinical decision-making. Despite a decade of experience in using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) to diagnose various infections, its use in LVAD patients remains scarce. In this case series, we review the current evidence in literature and describe our single center experience using F-FDG PET/CT for the diagnosis and management of LVAD infections.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Heart Failure / therapy
  • Heart-Assist Devices / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18