The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Jan 2005
Experience and result of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in treating fulminant myocarditis with shock: what mechanical support should be considered first?
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), instead of ventricular assist device (VAD), could work as the first-line treatment of choice for fulminant myocarditis (FM) with profound shock if intraaortic balloon pumping was inadequate. We reviewed our experience in treating FM with ECMO and compared it with the literature that described the use of VAD. ⋯ Owning to advantages of fewer complications, easier application, and biventricular support, ECMO can be considered as the first-line treatment of mechanical support for FM with profound shock when intraaortic balloon pumping is inadequate or infeasible.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Jan 2005
Comparative StudyDecreased recipient survival following orthotopic heart transplantation with use of hearts from donors with projectile brain injury.
Fatal gunshot injury to the brain can cause significant alterations in the neuroendocrine state and myocardial dysfunction. Therefore heart allografts from these donors may result in graft failure following orthotopic heart transplantation (OHTx). We evaluated whether receiving a heart from a donor who died from fatal gunshot wound to the brain independently affected the outcome of transplantation. ⋯ Receiving a heart from a donor with fatal gunshot brain injury is a significant risk factor for recipient mortality following OHTx. Cautious use of heart allograft from these donors, especially in low-risk recipients, may lead to improved outcome following heart transplantation.