A Successful Heart Transplantation Coupled with Temporary Right Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in a Patient with (ir)Reversible Pulmonary Hypertension

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 26;19(19):12206. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912206.

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) constitutes one of the main contraindications to heart transplantation (OHT), and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is associated with high risk of posttransplant right heart failure (RVF). In the present case report, a patient with PH is introduced who qualified for heart lung transplantation (HLT) and underwent successful OHT with temporary right ventricle assist device (tRVAD) due to the lack of a suitable heart-lung donor. Temporary RVAD support coupled with optimal medical management may help reverse pulmonary vascular resistance, which was previously deemed as permanent in patients requiring heart transplantation.

Keywords: RVAD; heart transplantation; pulmonary hypertension; right ventricle assist device.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Heart Failure* / etiology
  • Heart Failure* / surgery
  • Heart Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Heart-Assist Devices* / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary* / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right* / complications
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right* / surgery

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.