Right latissimus dorsi cardiomyoplasty in diaphragm eventration and cardiac malposition.

Abstract

Cardiomyoplasty recently has been introduced as a surgical therapy for long-lasting cardiac dysfunction in selected patients. We report the case of a patient affected by chronic heart failure, unresponsive to maximal medical therapy, with concomitant posttraumatic injury of the left phrenic nerve, left diaphragm eventration, and cardiac malposition (right displacement). In view of the progressive deterioration of the cardiac function, cardiomyoplasty was recommended, and the right latissimus dorsi muscle was used to perform the wrapping procedure. A 6-month follow-up showed significant functional, as well as hemodynamic, improvements in addition to a reduction in medical therapy.