Premium
Explantation of a Mechanical Assist Device:
Author(s) -
Delgado Diego H.,
Rao Vivek,
Miriuka Santiago G.,
AlHesayen Abdurrahman,
R.N. Jane McIver,
Feindel Christopher M.,
Cusimano Robert J.,
Ross Heather J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of cardiac surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1540-8191
pISSN - 0886-0440
DOI - 10.1111/j.0886-0440.2004.04010.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ventricular assist device , cardiology , dobutamine , hemodynamics , myocarditis , heart failure , refractory (planetary science) , physics , astrobiology
Reliable predictors of myocardial recovery post‐mechanical assist device implantation are not well defined. We report the case of a 29‐year‐old woman with refractory congestive heart failure due to acute myocarditis of unknown etiology. The patient was supported with a HeartMate (Thoratec Corp., Woburn, MI) left ventricular assist device for 100 days showing improvement in clinical status. Hemodynamic monitoring, dobutamine stress echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary testing were performed to identify myocardial recovery. Improvements in myocardial reserve, hemodynamic parameters, and myocardial oxygen consumption were identified prior to explantation. The patient was successfully explanted. This case confirms that myocardial recovery is feasible with the use of a mechanical assist device. This article describes our current left ventricular assist device weaning protocol. (J Card Surg 2004;19:47‐50)