Title: 543 An Old Problem with a New Therapy: GI Bleeding in VAD Patients and Deep Bowel Enteroscopy (Double Balloon/Spiral Enteroscopy)
Abstract: Evidence suggests that patients treated with non-pulsatile ventricular assist devices (VAD) are at increased risk for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) beyond routine anticoagulation. Diagnostic and treatment algorithms are currently undefined. We reviewed our experience in diagnosis and treatment of GIB in VAD patients (pts) and propose a new algorithm utilizing deep bowel enteroscopy (DBE) to speed diagnosis and limit transfusions.