title: Left ventricular assist device support of medically unresponsive pulmonary hypertension and aortic insufficiency.
abstract: Most centers consider medically unresponsive pulmonary hypertension an absolute contraindication to orthotopic cardiac transplantation because the alternative surgical therapy, heterotopic graft placement, is associated with decreased survival, although most patients normalize their pulmonary hemodynamics postoperatively. Orthotopic transplantation in patients with elevated, but responsive pulmonary pressures, also is associated with an increased operative mortality rate and decreased long-term survival. The authors present the case of a patient with medically unresponsive pulmonary hypertension who was mechanically supported in an effort to improve his orthotopic transplant candidacy and decrease his risk. After informed consent, a HeartMate left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was inserted and the pulmonary hemodynamic response was monitored. Immediately before LVAD insertion, the pulmonary artery pressure (PA) was 74/28 mmHg with a transpulmonary gradient (TPG) of 28 mmHg, and a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of 6.6 Wood units, despite prolonged dobutamine, milrinone, and prostaglandin E1 infusions. After 10 weeks of LVAD support, pressure and resistance improved; pulmonary artery pressure was 28/15 mmHg, transpulmonary gradient was 15 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance was 2.8 Wood units. This patient subsequently underwent an uneventful orthotopic heart transplant. At 1 year after transplantation, pulmonary artery hemodynamics were normal (PA 34/14 mmHg, TPG at 8 mmHg, and PVR at 1.5 Wood units). The authors recommend the consideration of LVAD placement in patients with medically unresponsive pulmonary artery hypertension to assess PA responsiveness and improve the patient's orthotopic cardiac transplant candidacy and decrease the operative risk. However, several weeks may be needed for normalization of pressure and resistance.
authors.affiliation: Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Dembitsky
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Jaski
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Daily
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sono
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akasaka
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hoagland
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000592:standards; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D020105:Milrinone; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011728:Pyridones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004280:Dobutamine; D000527:Alprostadil; D020105:Milrinone