The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
-
J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Aug 2001
Comparative StudyPreliminary result of an algorithm to select proper ventricular assist devices for high-risk patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is not suitable for long-term support because of its high incidence of complications. Conversion from ECMO to ventricular assist device (VAD) is reasonable, and we have developed a simple algorithm for selecting proper VADs for these ECMO-supported patients. ⋯ Using a conversion protocol provides a good guideline for making decisions. According to the protocol, right heart and pulmonary function can be clearly assured before shifting to LVAD in these critical ECMO-supported patients.
-
J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Aug 2001
Comparative StudyPulmonary artery systolic pressures estimated by echocardiogram vs cardiac catheterization in patients awaiting lung transplantation.
At many lung transplant centers, right heart catheterization and transthoracic echocardiogram are part of the routine pre-transplant evaluation to measure pulmonary pressures. Because decisions regarding single vs bilateral lung transplant procedures and the need for cardiopulmonary bypass are often made based on pulmonary artery systolic pressures, we sought to examine the relationship between estimated and measured pulmonary artery systolic pressures using echocardiogram and catheterization, respectively. ⋯ In patients with pulmonary hypertension awaiting transplant, pulmonary artery systolic pressures estimated by echocardiogram correspond but do not serve as an accurate predictive model of pulmonary artery systolic pressures measured by catheterization. Technical limitations of the echocardiogram in this patient population often preclude estimating pulmonary artery systolic pressure.