Five days of no anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy and NovoSeven administration in a HeartWare HVAD patient.

ABSTRACT

Postoperative bleeding is the most common complication following the implantation of ventricular assist devices. This is a case report of a HeartWare HVAD patient with intractable bleeding following chest tube insertion necessitating massive blood transfusion and multiple thoracotomies. Anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy were discontinued and intravenous NovoSeven was administered as last resort. Bleeding ceased immediately and no pump-related issues were observed. However, thrombus formation in the right atrium and superior vena cava was detected.