Total Artificial Heart as Rescue Therapy for Primary Graft Failure in an Infant.

Ziegler, Luke A; Sainathan, Sandeep; Morell, Victor O; Sharma, Mahesh S · Ann Thorac Surg · 2018

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

An infant unable to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass after orthotopic heart transplantation was cannulated for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. During the next 3 days, allograft failure and intracardiac thrombosis necessitated cardiectomy. To provide acute mechanical circulatory support, artificial atrial chambers were constructed with Gore-Tex conduits and PediMag centrifugal pumps were connected to each by Berlin Heart EXCOR cannulae. The PediMag pumps were subsequently exchanged for 10-mL Berlin Heart EXCOR pumps. After 60 days of support by total artificial heart, the patient was bridged successfully to a second heart transplant.

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