Placement of a left ventricular assist device in a patient with dextrocardia.
Dextrocardia most commonly presents in the setting of situs inversus, but it may occur as an isolated anomaly with normal position of the abdominal organs. Herein we present a 54-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy and dextrocardia with normal position of the abdominal organs who presented with an exacerbation of congestive heart failure requiring inotropic support as well as mechanical ventilation. An implantable, wearable left ventricular assist device was placed in this patient to allow for ambulation and eventual discharge home. The patient survived 4 months before he developed pneumonia and expired.
Southard
Robert E
RE
Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery and Assist Devices, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Nelson
Jonathan C
JC
Joyce
David L
DL
Thompson
Larry O
LO
Skrabal
Christian A
CA
Torre-Amione
Guillermo
G
Youker
Keith A
KA
Noon
George P
GP
Loebe
Matthias
M
D015897:Comorbidity; D003914:Dextrocardia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged