Normalization of native heart function years after heterotopic transplantation.
We describe a patient whose native heart function has normalized several years after heterotopic heart transplantation. The native heart sustained the patient's circulation at a time when the donor heart was temporarily dysfunctional. Native heart improvement, let alone normalization, is considered rare after heterotopic transplantation but has been noted with increased frequency after long-term unloading with left ventricular assistance.
Beyer
E A
EA
Department of Cardiopulmonary Transplantation, Texas Heart Institute at St Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston 77225-0345, USA.
McMullan
D M
DM
Delgado
R
R
Gregoric
I
I
Radovancevic
B
B
Frazier
O H
OH
D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic