Mechanical ventricular assistance for the failing right ventricle after cardiac transplantation.
Right ventricular failure secondary to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) following orthotopic cardiac transplant is a complication with a high mortality; and patients with high resistance are often not accepted on transplant waiting lists. We describe six cases of right ventricular failure after cardiac transplant managed by right ventricular assist device (RVAD), four of whom died and two patients who survived following life-threatening complications.
Barnard
S P
SP
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Freeman Road Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK.
Hasan
A
A
Forty
J
J
Hilton
C J
CJ
Dark
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*