Pumpless Lung Assist as a Bridge to Medical Therapy in a Teenager With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return

Abstract

Heart failure is the main cause of death in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and congenital heart disease. We used an original approach in a 15-year-old girl with rapidly progressive right heart failure secondary to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. After surgical congenital heart defect repair on cardiopulmonary bypass, she was weaned off bypass using a central Novalung for 11 days, then started on triple specific pulmonary vasodilator therapy.