Use of right ventricular support with a centrifugal pump in post-valve surgery right ventricular failure: a case...

The optimal treatment method for right ventricular failure after valve surgery complicated by a low cardiac output has not been determined, although several case reports have been published on patients with ventricular failure and arrhythmia who were bridged to cardiac transplantation using biventricular or left ventricular assist devices. This case series illustrates successful circulatory support of 4 patients with prolonged low cardiac outputs and right ventricular failure and arrhythmias after valvular heart surgery with or without severe pulmonary hypertension. In-hospital death occurred in one patient and 3 patients were discharged from the hospital with good general condition. At two years' follow-up, 2 patients were in functional class one but another patient underwent laparotomy for multiple splenic abscesses and died from multiple organ failure.