Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2012 Apr;45(2):116-119. 10.5090/kjtcs.2012.45.2.116.

Bridge to Transplantation with a Left Ventricular Assist Device

• Jung JJ
• Sung K
• Jeong DS
• Kim WS
• Lee YT
• Park PW

• KMID: 1433673
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5090/kjtcs.2012.45.2.116

Abstract

A 61-year-old female patient was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy with severe left ventricle dysfunction. Two days after admission, continuous renal replacement therapy was performed due to oliguria and lactic acidosis. On the fifth day, an intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted due to low cardiac output syndrome. Beginning 4 days after admission, she was supported for 15 days thereafter with an extracorporeal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) because of heart failure with multi-organ failure. A heart transplant was performed while the patient was stabilized with the LVAD. She developed several complications after the surgery, such as cytomegalovirus pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, wound dehiscence, and H1N1 infection. On postoperative day 19, she was discharged from the hospital with close follow-up and treatment for infection. She received follow-up care for 10 months without any immune rejection reaction.

Keyword

Left ventricular assist device; Heart failure; Heart transplantation; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

MeSH Terms

Acidosis, Lactic
Cardiac Output, Low
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated
Cytomegalovirus
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Heart
Heart Failure
Heart Transplantation
Heart Ventricles
Heart-Assist Devices
Humans
Middle Aged
Oliguria
Pneumonia
Rejection (Psychology)
Renal Replacement Therapy
Transplants
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary