Less invasive thoratec LVAD insertion: A surgical technique

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation is historically a compli cated, invasive operation performed on critically ill patients and is often associated with bleeding and multiorgan morbidity. The purpose of this inv estigation was to devise an LVAD insertion technique, utilizing the concept s of less invasive cardiac surgery, that would be a less complicated operat ion, with low morbidity, and still meet all the goals of the standard proce dure. We describe the technical details of a "less invasive" LVAD implantat ion.