TY - JOUR AU - Wert, Leonhard AU - Hanke, Jasmin S. AU - Dogan, Günes AU - Ricklefs, Marcel AU - Chatterjee, Anamika AU - Feldmann, Christina AU - Ismail, Issam AU - Napp, L. Christian AU - Haverich, Axel AU - Schmitto, Jan D. PY - 2017 TI - Argatroban administration as therapy for thrombosis in patients with continuous-flow ventricular assist devices JF - Journal of Thoracic Disease; Vol 10, Supplement 15 (June 19, 2018): Journal of Thoracic Disease (Novel Surgical Techniques for Ventricular Assist Device Implantation) Y2 - 2017 KW - N2 - Background: Device thrombosis is one of the main complications in left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) therapy and remains a challenging issue. Data on device thrombosis management, especially on the application of direct thrombin inhibitors such as argatroban, is limited and a consensus on thrombosis management has not yet been established. Methods: In this study we analysed retrospective clinical data obtained from 26 patients on VAD therapy who received argatroban for suspected VAD thrombosis, between April, 2012 and February, 2017. Results: Thirteen patients (50%) showed resolution of thrombus after argatroban therapy. Eight of 26 patients (30.8%) were free of thrombotic events 90 days after discharge. Argatroban therapy was unsuccessful in 13 patients of the study cohort, leading to subsequent VAD-exchange. Six of 13 patients with first VAD-exchange had no thrombotic events 90 days after discharge. Six patients (23.1%) suffered from bleeding, especially gastrointestinal bleeding. No hemorrhagic strokes were observed. Three patients (11.5%) did not survive the follow-up period. Conclusions: Argatroban appears to be an alternative to other pharmacological treatment options in VAD thrombosis. Efficacy and safety characteristics are acceptable, but further investigation on larger populations is necessary. UR - https://jtd.amegroups.org/article/view/17684