Ventricular thrombus and subarachnoid bleeding during support with ventricular assist devices

We report the case of a 23-year-old man with acute aortic valve insufficien cy caused by endocarditis, who after emergency aortic valve replacement dev eloped biventricular heart failure. The heart failure was treated with temp orary assist devices. Subarachnoid bleeding and thrombus obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract was detected. The postoperative course is p resented with special emphasis on management of subarachnoid bleeding and t he simultaneous use of anticoagulation necessary for ventricular assist dev ices. (C) 1999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.