Charles Yin

Corresponding Author Charles Yin Division of Hematological Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Division of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Correspondence Charles Yin, Division of Hematopathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 5B3.08 Walter Mackenzie Centre, 8440 – 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.

Mechanical circulatory support using left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has transformed management of patients with end-stage heart failure with more patients on LVAD therapy surviving long enough to necessitate either device explantation or decommissioning. Usually, there is foreign material retained following these procedures that requires maintaining antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy.

The methods outlined in this protocol enable the imaging and quantification of the dynamic efferocytic process, using both fixed-cell and live-cell approaches. These approaches offer several advantages over commonly employed flow cytometry-based methods23,24.