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

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.

Nitric oxide versus prostaglandin E1 for reduction of pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates.

Background: We sought to directly compare the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and nitric oxide (NO) in testing for pulmonary hypertension reversibility in heart transplant candidates.

Methods: We included 19 heart transplant candidates who fulfilled at least 1 of 3 criteria: pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of >4 Wood units; transpulmonary gradient (TPG) of >12 mmHg; or systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of >60 mmHg. Patients randomly received either PGE1 (0.

SEQUENTIAL ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF STONE HEART SYNDROME IN A PATIENT SUPPORTED SIX DAYS WITH AN ABDOMINAL LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE (ALVAD).

A 21-year-old male patient underwent aortic and mitral valve replacement for progressive cardiac failure due to acute bacterial endocarditis. Ischemic myocardial contracture developed during attempts to restore cardiac activity following hypothermic, ischemic, cardioplegic arrest. An abdominal left ventricular assist device (ALVAD) was implanted and supported the circulation for nearly six days prior to cardiac transplantation.