Introduction
Drug-refractory right ventricular failure (RVF) is mostly caused by pressure and volume overload of the right ventricle (RV) due to its limited muscular pump function. Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is an important contributing factor leading to the progression of secondary RVF (s-RVF).1 Especially acute-on-chronic s-RVF has a tremendously high mortality rate with up to 40%.2Mechanical circulatory support of the RV may be the only therapeutic strategy facing this rapidly progressive syndrome and was reported to be successful with various percutaneous cannulation techniques in cases of RVF due to myocardial infarction, after left ventricular assist device implantation and prior lung transplantation.3, 4
Herewith, we describe our experience with a percutaneously implanted right ventricular assist device (RVAD) combined with a regular veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) set-up in a patient with acute s-RVF due to PAH under on-going resuscitation.
This case report does not require Institutional Review Board approval at our institution and the informed consent was obtained from the patient.
This case report does not require IRB review at our institution and the
patient has given consent for their case to be used for educational
purposes.