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Updated: May 23, 2026

Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: August 16, 2021
Left ventricular assist device as bridge to recovery for anthracycline-induced terminal heart failure
Jon M Appel1, Kåre Sander, Peter B Hansen
1Departments of CardiologyThoracic Surgery Thoracic Anesthesiology Oncology, Rigshopitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. jon.michael.appel@gmail.com
Abstract:
Anthracycline treatments are hampered by dose-related cardiotoxicity, frequently leading to heart failure (HF) with a very poor prognosis. The authors report a case of a 19-year-old man developing HF after anthracycline treatment for Ewing sarcoma. Despite medical treatment, his condition deteriorated to terminal HF, leading to implantation of a mechanical left ventricular assist device (LVAD). His heart function recovered, allowing explantation of the device 14 months after implantation. Heart transplantation is often contraindicated in the first years after treatment for cancers, and LVAD as "bridge to recovery" may be warranted in similar patients.
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