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Updated: May 4, 2026

Functional Assessment of the Donor Heart During Ex Situ Perfusion: Insights from Pressure-Volume Loops and Surface Echocardiography
Published on: October 11, 2022
Neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy in heart donors
Burhan Mohamedali1, Geetha Bhat1, Antone Tatooles1
1Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Advocate Christ Medical Center, University of Illinois Hospitals and Health Sciences System, Chicago and Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Insights
Donor heart availability for transplantation is limited. Neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy can cause left ventricular dysfunction, complicating donor heart procurement. This case highlights successful heart procurement despite severe dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Donor availability significantly limits cardiac transplantation worldwide.
- Neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy (NSC) frequently complicates donor evaluation, posing a procurement challenge.
- Left ventricular dysfunction is a common presentation of NSC.
Observation:
- A case of a 23-year-old male donor with severe left ventricular dysfunction is presented.
- The donor heart was successfully procured for transplantation despite the observed dysfunction.
- This case underscores the potential for successful organ procurement in challenging scenarios.
Findings:
- Severe left ventricular dysfunction in a donor is not an absolute contraindication for cardiac transplantation.
- Successful heart procurement was achieved, enabling transplantation.
- The report includes a comprehensive review of NSC and donor evaluation protocols.
Implications:
- This case may broaden criteria for donor heart acceptance.
- Improved understanding of NSC can optimize donor evaluation and increase organ availability.
- Successful transplantation from donors with prior left ventricular dysfunction offers hope for more recipients.
Abstract:
Cardiac transplantation is severely restricted by donor availability. Left ventricular dysfunction due to neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy is often seen during donor evaluation and often presents a clinical dilemma for procurement. We report a case of a 23-year-old man with severe left ventricular dysfunction whose heart was successfully procured for transplantation. The brief case report is followed by an extensive review of neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy as well as donor evaluation for cardiac transplantation in the setting of such cardiomyopathy.
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