CT Imaging of Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Associated Complications

Purpose of Review The purpose of this paper is to review the current role of computed tomography (CT) in the imaging of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Recent Findings Recent studies have highlighted the prognostic role of measuring skeletal muscle CT attenuation in predicting adverse LVAD outcomes. CT is also useful for evaluation of inflow cannula malposition, and outflow graft complications such as obstruction and kinking. In addition, 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) has been shown to be of value in evaluation of suspected LVAD infection. Newer CT techniques such as dual-energy CT and metal artifact reduction algorithms can potentially generate better quality CT images, though currently there is no high-quality published literature on their use in LVAD imaging. Summary CT is a useful technique as part of a multi-modality approach in the evaluation of LVADs and associated complications.