Heart failure in remission for more than 13 years after removal of a left ventricular assist device. uri icon

abstract

  • Mechanical cardiac unloading with use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is associated with substantial improvements in left ventricular function and enables subsequent LVAD explantation in some patients. We describe the case of a 35-year-old man with dilated nonischemic cardiomyopathy who was supported with an LVAD for 9 months. After the device was removed, he led a normal life for 13 years and 4 months. However, at 49 years of age, he presented with new signs and symptoms of heart failure, necessitating implantation of a 2nd LVAD. Afterwards, he has remained asymptomatic. This case is unique in that the patient lived a normal life for longer than a decade before renewed left ventricular decompensation necessitated repeat LVAD therapy. Histologic examination revealed few changes between the first device's removal in 1999 and the 2nd device's implantation in 2012.

published proceedings

  • Tex Heart Inst J

author list (cited authors)

  • Segura, A. M., Dris, L., Massin, E. K., Clubb, F. J., Buja, L. M., Frazier, O. H., & Taegtmeyer, H.

citation count

  • 5

complete list of authors

  • Segura, Ana Maria||Dris, Lamia||Massin, Edward K||Clubb, Fred J||Buja, L Maximilian||Frazier, OH||Taegtmeyer, Heinrich

publication date

  • August 2014