Use of biventricular circulatory support as bridge to simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation

A 64-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy and chronic renal insufficiency (without dialysis) was admitted in cardiogenic shock urgently requiring a circulatory biventricular assist device (Thoratec). Twenty-nine days later we performed orthotopic cardiac and heterotopic renal transplantations with organs from the same donor. Postoperatively secondary renal insufficiency occurred due to rejection of the graft, bleeding ulcer with hypovolemic shock, and peritonitis due to Streptococcus faecalis and Candida. In the postoperative course only one rejection of the cardiac graft was detected. The patient was discharged after 4 months, resuming a normal life.