Assessment of myocardial recovery in a patient with acute myocarditis supported with a left ventricular assist device: A case report

  • Simon Maybaum
  • , Philip Stockwell
  • , Yoshi Naka
  • , Katherine Catanese
  • , Margaret Flannery
  • , Peter Fisher
  • , Mehmet Oz
  • , Donna Mancini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Acute myocarditis may present with profound hemodynamic compromise; however, spontaneous resolution of the inflammatory process may occur in up to half of such patients. In patients with fulminant myocarditis, mechanical circulatory support may serve as a bridge to myocardial recovery. In this report we describe a 35-year-old man with acute myocarditis who required left ventricular assist device support as a bridge to recovery, and suggest a method for determining the suitability and timing of device explantation. A combination of echocardiography, right heart catheterization, exercise testing and serial endomyocardial biopsies was used to determine the resolution of myocarditis, recovery of myocardial function and timing for device explantation. Successful device explantation was performed after 37 days of device support. Further study is required to assess the role of ventricular assist devices in combination with immunosuppressive therapy in the management of fulminant myocarditis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)202-209
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
Volume22
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2003
Externally publishedYes

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