title: Subcutaneous implantation of a new intravenous pump system for prostacyclin treatment in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravenous prostacyclin treatment is a well recognized option in patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and remains the gold standard of treatment. However, intravenous prostacyclin treatment involves several limitations, because the available battery-driven pump systems carry the risk of line infections, catheter-related embolisms, thrombosis, and delivery system malfunctions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, on the safe transition procedure from subcutaneous to intravenous treprostinil in a 74-year-old woman suffering from severe PAH (New York Heart Association functional class III), using a new implantable, gas-driven, intravenous pump device (LenusPro, Tricumed/OMT, Frittlingen, Germany).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This implantable pump system may overcome the well-known limitations and risks of commonly used delivery systems, and thus may provide a new option for continuous intravenous prostacyclin treatment in patients with PAH.
authors.affiliation: Pneumology/University Specialized Center for Pulmonary Hypertension Innsbruck, Internal Medicine I, Department of Internal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Desole
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Velik-Salchner
authors.forename: Gustav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fraedrich
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ewert
authors.forename: Christian M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kähler
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011464:Epoprostenol