Bowel obstruction due to retained intraperitoneal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) driveline.

We had encountered a rare complication of retained left ventricular assist device driveline after cardiac transplant: inadvertent penetration into the peritoneal cavity resulting in strangulation of small bowel. This complication, though uncommon, provides substantial risk to patients previously treated with left ventricular assist devices. Meticulous care must be taken to ensure proper device insertion and extraction, as well as consideration of this etiology when patients present with bowel obstruction after cardiac transplant.