Severe Vasoplegic Shock After Heart Transplant Successfully Treated With Multimodal Therapeutic Approach

Exp Clin Transplant. 2024 May;22(5):406-408. doi: 10.6002/ect.2023.0322.

Abstract

Vasoplegia describes a constellation of low vascular resistance and normal cardiac output. Vasoplegia is common after cardiac surgery in general and in heart transplant recipients more specifically and occurs in over one-half of all heart transplant recipients with a varying degree of severity. The pathophysiology of vasoplegia is multifactorial and associated with a cascade of inflammatory mediators. Routine treatment of vasoplegia is based on medical vasopressor therapy, but in severe cases this may be insufficient to maintain adequate blood pressure and does not address the underlying pathophysiology. We report a case of severe vasoplegic shock in a heart transplant recipient who was successfully managed with a multimodal therapy combination of methylene blue, immunoglobulins enriched with immunoglobulin M, cytokine adsorption, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. This represents a promising therapeutic approach for heart transplant patients with vasoplegia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cytokines
  • Heart Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylene Blue*
  • Middle Aged
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Shock / diagnosis
  • Shock / drug therapy
  • Shock / etiology
  • Shock / physiopathology
  • Shock / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasoplegia* / diagnosis
  • Vasoplegia* / drug therapy
  • Vasoplegia* / etiology
  • Vasoplegia* / physiopathology

Substances

  • Methylene Blue
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Cytokines