Final answer:
The most common cause of bleeding during the early phases of ventricular assist is injury to a blood vessel, which can occur during implantation surgery or due to the interaction of the ventricular assist device with the cardiovascular system. Anticoagulant therapy, often administered with VADs, may increase bleeding risk, as can pre-existing or surgically induced coagulation disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
If bleeding occurs during the early phases of ventricular assist, the most common cause of this issue is often related to injury to a blood vessel. When a ventricular assist device (VAD) is implanted, there is an inherent risk of damage to blood vessels, which can lead to bleeding. This can occur due to the physical trauma of surgery where a blood vessel is severed or inadvertently damaged, causing blood and blood components such as erythrocytes and white blood cells to leak out. The VAD itself may also contribute to bleeding due to its interaction with the patient's cardiovascular system. Anticoagulant therapy, often necessary with VAD implementation to prevent blood clots, can exacerbate bleeding risks. In addition, coagulation disorders, either pre-existing or induced by the VAD surgery, can be another cause of early bleeding complications.