Clinical Vignette: Sleeve Gastrectomy in LVAD patient as Bridge for Cardiac Transplant

Obesity is a disease associated with many life-threatening complications, including end stage cardiac disease. Patients with refractory cardiac failure and class III obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2) are commonly excluded from consideration of cardiac transplantation which is preferentially reserved for patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2.