title: Biventricular assist device for scombroid poisoning with refractory myocardial dysfunction: a bridge to recovery.
abstract: We report the usefulness of biventricular mechanical circulatory support in a 36-yr-old woman with refractory myocardial dysfunction resulting from scombroid poisoning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical and surgical university care units.
  
  
  METHODS
  A previously healthy 36-yr-old woman with severe myocardial dysfunction unresponsive to epinephrine (1.3 microg/kg/min) and dobutamine (18 microg/kg/min) after the ingestion of cooked fresh tuna.
  
  
  METHODS
  Implantation at day 3 of a biventricular assist device consisting of two paracorporeal pneumatic pumps set at 70 beats/min to reach an output of 5.6 L/min during 8 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The biventricular mechanical circulatory assist device allowed weaning of the inotropic drugs, maintenance of end-organ function, and support of the patient until myocardial recovery. The patient was successfully explanted 11 days after ingestion. Cardiac function had totally recovered, but a stroke was noted. At 3-yrs follow-up, there was no cardiac or neurologic sequela.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report describes severe myocardial dysfunction secondary to scombroid poisoning and demonstrates the usefulness of a mechanical circulatory assist device as a bridge to recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Vascular Surgery, Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France. jean-michel.grinda@egp.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grinda
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellenfant
authors.forename: François Gilles
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Brivet
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carel
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deloche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000506:poisoning*; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; C034101:scombrotoxin