Mechanical ventricular support lowers pulmonary vascular resistance in a patient with congential heart disease.

Petrofski, Jason A; Hoopes, Charles W; Bashore, Thomas M; Russell, Stuart D; Milano, Carmelo A · Ann Thorac Surg · 2003

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Severely elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is a relative contraindication to orthotopic heart transplantation. A potential novel strategy to reverse elevated PVR may be implantation of a chronic left ventricular assist device with subsequent left ventricular unloading. We present a patient with elevated PVR secondary to congenital heart disease who was listed for heart-lung transplant. The patient underwent placement of biventricular assist devices and subsequently experienced marked reduction of PVR, ultimately enabling successful heart transplantation.

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