We report the case of a 64-year-old Jarvik 2000 recipient with a high risk of bleeding (anticoagulation treatment and acquired von Willebrand disease), who presented with intractable gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to severe gastric angiodysplasia. He was successfully treated with long-acting octreotide.
HayesHMDemboLGLarbalestierRO′DriscollG. Management options to treat gastrointestinal bleeding in patients supported on rotary left ventricular assist devices: a single center experience. Artif Organs2010; 34: 703–706.
2.
FedericiABBuddeURandJH. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome 2004: International Registry—diagnosis and management from online to bedside [Review]. Hamostaseologie2004; 24: 50–55.
3.
MillerLWPaganiFDRussellSD. Use of a continuous-flow device in patients awaiting heart transplantation. N Engl J Med2007; 357: 885–896.
4.
CrowSChenDMilanoC. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome in continuous-flow ventricular assist device recipients. Ann Thorac Surg2010; 90: 1263–1269.
5.
TsaiHMSussmanIINagelRL. Shear stress enhances the proteolysis of von Willebrand factor in normal plasma. Blood1994; 83: 2171–2179.
6.
CrowSJohnRBoyleA. Gastrointestinal bleeding rates in recipients of nonpulsatile and pulsatile left ventricular assist devices. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg2009; 137: 208–215.
7.
VincentelliASusenSLe TourneauT. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome in aortic stenosis. N Engl J Med2003; 349: 343–349.
8.
JunqueraFSaperasEVidelaS. Long-term efficacy of octreotide in the prevention of recurrent bleeding from gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. Am J Gastroenterol2007; 102: 254–260.