Treatment of fungal infection on left ventricle assist device driveline exit site: a case report and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The use of ventricular assist devices (VAD) is increasing; however, diagnosis and management of device complications, such as the driveline exit site (DES) being the portal of entry for fungal infection, is not well known. METHOD: A systematic review involving searching PubMed (2005 to July 2020) was conducted. The case of a 43-year-old female patient who had a left VAD (LVAD) (HeartMate 3, Abbott, US) is also reported. RESULTS: The patient was successfully treated with ketoconazole cream and oral fluconazole for likely superficial DES fungal infections. We included 36 studies that met our inclusion criteria; however, only one was included in our review. In the literature, five cases of DES fungal infection were reported, with Candida being the only fungal pathogen. CONCLUSION: LVAD fungal infections are uncommon but can be responsible for high mortality rates, require a prolonged period of treatment, and can present a huge problem when surgical alternatives are not available. However, Candida species are most common. Fungal infections can only produce clear discharge, and so the classic definition of driveline infection based on purulent secretion can vary. Negative skin culture does not exclude the diagnosis of infection of the DES, and so empirical diagnosis may only be clinically based.

Prevention and early treatment of driveline infections in ventricular assist device patients - The DESTINE staging proposal and the first standard of care protocol.

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) using left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have considerably improved the quality of life and survival rate of patients with end-stage heart failure. Despite substantial technological progress, major challenges with regard to VAD-specific and VAD-related infections have hitherto hindered the broader application of this promising therapy approach. Driveline infections (DLI) range among the main adverse events experienced in LVAD patients. However, many centers still apply their own protocol for driveline exit site (DLES) care and an international standard on prevention, reduction and early treatment of DLI after the perioperative period has not yet been defined. In March 2019, VAD coordinators and cardiac surgeons from Germany and Austria met to develop a standard of care procedure (SOP) as well as a new staging approach with recommended actions for treatment of VAD carriers. In this Driveline Expert STagINg and carE (DESTINE) study group we developed a 10-step SOP for DLES care with emphasis on essentials such as clean and save preparation, sterile dressing change and secure driveline immobilization. An advanced wound staging approach was defined with recommended actions for prevention, early detection and stage-related management of DLI. Broad consensus was reached on the fact that an interdisciplinary approach both in DLES care and DLES healing disorder awareness is required to prolong infect-free survival times on MCS as well as to ensure high patient compliance and quality of life. In conclusion, a new detailed SOP for appropriate DLES care and an advanced wound staging approach for prevention and management of DLI were defined on an expert level applicable for VAD clinicians, practitioners and care givers in Central Europe.

Wound care of the driveline exit site in patients with a ventricular assist device: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to systematically define and analyze the studies on driveline exit site care methods for patients with a ventricular assist device. METHODS: The studies related to driveline exit site care of the patients with a ventricular assist device published in English and Turkish between 2008 and 2017 were reviewed from the international Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the national databases. Of a total of 83 articles, a total of seven research articles which met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. RESULTS: Findings related to the agents used in the cleaning of the driveline exit site, dressing closures, dressing change frequency, and use of driveline anchoring devices were obtained from studies included in the research. It was found that chlorhexidine solution for skin cleaning and sterile gauze sheets and transparent covering for dressing closure were the most preferred methods for the driveline exit site care. Dressing change frequency varied considerably from center to center and anchoring devices were used in all studies. CONCLUSION: There is no gold standard method for the driveline exit site care of patients with a ventricular assist device and researches on the driveline exit site care seem to be limited. It is recommended that large-scale, randomized-controlled studies should be conducted which would provide a stronger proof of the driveline exit site care.

Reduction of INCOR® driveline infection rate with silicone at the driveline exit site.

Objectives: A silicone interface at skin level of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may reduce the risk of driveline (DL) exit site infections when compared with other materials (e.g. velour). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of DL exit site infection according to the presence of silicone or velour at the exit site with the redesigned INCOR, facilitating the positioning of silicone at the exit site. Methods: The rate of DL exit site infection and overall survival were compared between the two groups (silicone group, n = 16/velour group, n = 24) with 1-year follow-up postimplantation. Results: Risk factors for infection were more prevalent in the silicone group (obesity P = 0.33, prevalence of renal dysfunction P = 0.007, higher CRP levels P = 0.001). During the observation period, 6 patients developed a DL infection (25%) in the velour group, whereas 1 patient developed a DL infection in (6%) in the silicone group (P = 0.19). The event-per-patient year (EPPY) rates were 0.34 and 0.10 for velour group and silicone group, respectively (P = 0.30). All DL infections could be treated successfully by the antibiotic treatment, surgical debridement and ultimately high urgency heart transplantation, resulting in no direct DL infection-related mortality in this cohort. One-year survival was similar in both the groups (silicone 69 vs 75% in the velour group; P = 0.67). Conclusions: Fewer infections were observed at the exit site in case of a silicone-covered DL, without reaching statistical significance. More patients and longer observation periods are needed to demonstrate a statistical difference.

Comparing velour versus silicone interfaces at the driveline exit site of HeartMate II devices: infection rates, histopathology, and ultrastructural aspects.

BACKGROUND: Driveline exit site (DLES) infection is a major complication of ventricular assist devices (VADs). Differences in the sheath material interfacing with exit site tissue appear to affect healing time and infection risk more than site hygiene, but the mechanistic basis for this is not clear. METHODS: Health record data from Utah Artificial Heart Program patients with HeartMate II (HMII) devices implanted from 2008 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed, with particular attention to interface type, incorporation (healing) time, and infections. Tissue samples from the DLES were collected at the time of VAD removal in a small subset. These samples were examined by routine histology and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). RESULTS: Among 57 patients with sufficient data, 15 had velour interfaces and 42 had silicone. Indications for and duration of support were similar between the groups. The silicone group had shorter incorporation time (45 ±22 vs. 56 ±34 days, P=.17) and fewer DLES infections (20% vs. 1.7%, P=.026, for patient infections and 0.0340 vs. 0.166, P=.16, for infections per patient-year). Tissues from five patients, three with velour, were examined. Velour interfaces demonstrated more hyperkeratosis, hypergranulosis, and dermal inflammation. By ESEM, the silicone driveline tracts appeared relatively smooth and flat, whereas the velour interface samples were irregular with deep fissures and globular material adhering to the surface. CONCLUSIONS: Using the silicone portion of the HMII driveline at the DLES was associated with fewer infections and a trend toward faster healing in this small retrospective series. Whether the intriguing microscopic differences directly account for this needs further study on a larger scale.