In a new paper pending publication in HFSA journal the Journal of Cardiac Failure, Sing et al. report a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a patient on left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. The case report describes the first known presentation of illness secondary to SARS-CoV-2 in a patient with long-term LVAD support. The patient is a 66-year-old man with a history of end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy, on HeartMate II (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) LVAD as destination therapy, hypertension, atrial flutter and ischemic stroke who presented with a four-day history of fever, cough and shortness of breath following recent travel to Egypt. This case highlights an important consideration for management of ARDS, as the safety and efficacy of prone positioning in the presence of LVAD is currently unknown.
The full paper is currently available for preview in the Provider Resources section of the HFSA Coronavirus Resource Center.