Failure and off-pump replacement of Incor LVAD system.

An Incor (Berlin Heart AG, Berlin) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was implanted; 6 months later the patient was admitted to our department for intravenous antibiotic therapy for a driveline infection. Two days after admission under direct echocardiographic monitoring, the pump failure was noted to be entirely dependent on the position of the cable. The pump was successfully replaced without cardiopulmonary bypass as a matter of urgency.