Safety of Deep Enteroscopy and Capsule Endoscopy in LVAD Patients: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) have increased risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. They are prone to develop angiodysplasia of the small intestine, and have a higher risk of bleeding as these patients are all required to be on permanent therapeutic anticoagulation. Here we report a case of a critically ill 55-year-old male on pressors and inotropes with an LVAD, who successfully underwent an antegrade double balloon enteroscopy (DBE).




Gastroenterol Res. 2015;8(6):309-312
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/gr666w