Update on CT Imaging of Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Associated Complications

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the current role of computed tomography (CT) in the imaging of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Recent Findings: Recent studies continue to build on the prognostic role of measuring skeletal muscle CT attenuation in predicting adverse LVAD outcomes, and on the value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) in the evaluation of suspected LVAD infection. Though CT is very useful for the diagnosis of outflow graft obstruction, it often lacks the diagnostic capability to differentiate between intraluminal thrombus and extrinsic compression from biodebris accumulation. Newer CT techniques such as dual-energy CT and metal artifact reduction algorithms, though promising, lack 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.