Recovery from end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy during long-term LVAD support.
A patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy and extremely reduced left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction=0.10) presented to our institution for cardiac transplantation. Because of his worsening condition he was placed on the Novacor left ventricular assist device. During 3 months of support his left ventricular function recovered and he successfully underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting procedures; subsequently he could be weaned from the left ventricular assist device and discharged. The patient is no longer considered for cardiac transplantation.
Pietsch
L
L
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. cardiac&rz.charite.hu-berlin.de.
Laube
H
H
Baumann
G
G
Konertz
W
W
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*