Successful bridge to heart transplantation in a pediatric patient with biventricular heart failure associated with Barth syndrome: a case report.
Kazuto Arita, Takashi Kido, Masaki Taira et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A one-year-old boy with Barth syndrome presented in cardiogenic shock due to severe biventricular heart failure. He received emergency biventricular assist device support, with innovative management of the right ventricular assist device outflow to optimize left ventricular preload. After stabilization, he was transitioned to a Berlin Heart EXCOR and remained stable for 374 days before successfully undergoing heart transplantation.
What made this case unusual
The case demonstrates a unique approach to managing right ventricular assist device outflow in a pediatric patient with severe pulmonary hypertension, which is not commonly reported.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider early biventricular assist device support and strategic outflow management in pediatric patients with severe pulmonary hypertension to improve outcomes.
Why it matters
This case underscores the potential for mechanical circulatory support to bridge high-risk pediatric patients to heart transplantation, highlighting innovative strategies in complex clinical scenarios.