Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004; 52(4): 232-234
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-821017
Brief Communications

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Successful Long-Term Bridge to Transplant in a 5-Year-Old Boy with the EXCOR Left Ventricular Assist Device

C. Etz1 , H. Welp1 , T. D. T. Tjan1 , T. Krasemann2 , C. Schmidt3 , H. H. Scheld1 , C. Schmid1
  • 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Münster, Germany
  • 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital, Münster, Germany
  • 3Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Münster, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received December 4, 2003

Publication Date:
04 August 2004 (online)

Abstract

We report on a 5-year-old boy who presented with postcardiotomy failure after aortic valve replacement and had to undergo implantation of a Berlin Heart-Excor system since treatment with ECMO did not improve myocardial pump function. After a stormy postoperative course with delayed sternal closure after 9 days, the young boy finally recovered and could be fully mobilized. Until successful heart transplantation after a support interval of 77 days, he experienced no device-related infectious or thromboembolic complications.

References

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M. D. Christof Schmid

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
University Hospital

Albert-Schweitzer-Straße 33

48149 Münster

Germany

Phone: + 492518357412

Fax: + 49 25 18 34 83 16

Email: schmid@uni-muenster.de

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