Abstract
Infection remains a well-established complication after the placement of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Defining the extent of infection is a challenging task as there are few effective imaging modalities and no standardized guidelines regarding imaging in the diagnosis of device-related infections (DRIs). The use of gallium with single photon emission tomography-computed tomography (Ga-SPECT-CT) has not been previously reported in localizing DRIs. We reviewed the charts and images of five patients with LVADs who underwent Ga-SPECT-CT for the diagnosis of various types of DRIs. Gallium SPECT-CT further clarified the extent of infections among LVAD patients, allowing for patient-specific tailored treatments including surgical debridement. Gallium SPECT-CT is a useful tool when diagnosing LVAD infections and could potentially be the imaging modality of choice in the near future. With improved imaging studies, such as Ga-SPECT-CT, allowing for earlier and more accurate diagnoses of DRIs, the outcome of such infections is likely to improve.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | e5-e10 |
Journal | ASAIO Journal |
Volume | 61 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 13 2015 |
Keywords
- LVAD
- gallium
- infection
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Bioengineering
- Biomaterials
- Biomedical Engineering