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Richard N. Recipient

LVAD question

Sat, 04/04/2015 - 1:42PM
Hi all, anyone have any advice/ experience on stopping GI bleeding from LVAD?
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lola r.

Thu, 04/23/2015 - 12:21PM
HI my mom has had #3 bleeds. The docs took her off warfarin and put her on plavix to hopefully prevent any further bleeding.
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Art S.

Fri, 05/01/2015 - 2:09PM
Not sure how bad your bleeding issue is, but I lost 6 units (almost half the body's supply) due to a GI bleed a year ago. The issue stemmed from aspirin. After my LVAD placement I was put on aspirin along with my usual Coumadin dosage (I had a heart valve replacement 8 years ago and have been on Coumadin since then but not aspirin). Anyway, after getting the LVAD I noticed the tiniest of cuts would bleed excessively. I told my doctors about it and suggested it may be the aspirin, but to no avail. Eight months later, I had the major GI bleed and after multiple tests of every possible cause they couldn't determine why I bled. I again recommended stopping the aspirin - and they agreed. It's been a year and I haven't had the issue again. Hope that helps in some way.
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Jeff W.

Thu, 06/18/2015 - 7:12PM
I had this issue several times after the surgery. An endoscopic procedure was performed to find the source and a spot was cauterized, but it was not the source. After replacing the low hemoglobin via IV a second endoscopic was done and the bleeding point was seen and zapped. All of this occurred within the first few months of surgery. I am now approaching my 2nd anniversary 9/10/13 and have never had another GI bleeding issue. Although cuts and scrapes are hard to stop due to the blood thinner.
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Ernest M.

Tue, 07/14/2020 - 7:21AM

I got my LVAD on 9.Aug.2019. Since then I have been hospitalized 5 times, requiring blood transfusions and upper GI scopes. Each time a different area needed to be “plugged “. The problem is cased by LVAD itself. Because it is a continuous flow device, it causes malformation of the blood vessels or AVMs.This occurs in about 30% of LVAD patients.

In order to be proactive in determining that I’m developing a “leak”, I purchased a hemoglobin meter to determine when my hemoglobin levels starts to drop. I of course also observe my stools for darkening.Thus, I inform my LVAD coordinator that I need to be hospitalized before It drops to dangerous levels.