A CASE OF THE «BERLIN HEART EXCOR» BIVENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE IMPLANTATION AS A BRIDGE TO HEART TRANSPLANTATION FOR A PATIENT WITH DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY AND TERMINAL HEART FAILURE

Abstract

Patients with terminal heart failure, refractory to drug therapy, are severe category of cardiology. The possibility of effective correction of multi-organ failure and an increase in the life-time of patients with critical cardiac insuffi ciency has been proved with the use of biventricular assist device (BiVAD). In this report, we present the case of implantation of the BiVAD «Berlin Heart EXCOR» as a bridge to orthotopic cardiac transplantation to a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy, critical heart failure and a high risk of fatal complications. Despite the complex, long postoperative period after the implantation of «Berlin Heart EXCOR», proceeded with reversible multiorgan and heart failure, dysfunction of BiVAD pumps, it was achieved patient’s recovery, regress of heart failure phenomena and orthotopic heart transplantation was performed after 9 months with a good long-term result.

Keywords

• terminal chronic heart failure
• biventricular assist device
• orthotopic heart transplantation