Use of left ventricle assist device in a pregnant woman with acute aortic and coronary dissections

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2010 Aug;11(2):194-5. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2010.238501. Epub 2010 May 19.

Abstract

We report the case of a 31-year-old female in her 32nd week of pregnancy, who experienced an acute type A aortic dissection resulting in severe aortic insufficiency, dissection of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and left ventricular infarct with ejection fraction of 20%. After a successful cesarean section, she underwent a Bentall operation and three-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting. Despite maximal inotropic support, her cardiovascular indices deteriorated postoperatively. On the first postoperative day she was started on mechanical circulatory support with the Levitronix CentriMag left ventricular assist device. Her myocardial function improved and she was successfully weaned from this mechanical support on post-implant day 14. She remains alive and well to date.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aortic Aneurysm / physiopathology
  • Aortic Aneurysm / surgery*
  • Aortic Dissection / physiopathology
  • Aortic Dissection / surgery*
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects*
  • Cesarean Section
  • Coronary Aneurysm / physiopathology
  • Coronary Aneurysm / surgery*
  • Coronary Artery Bypass / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Live Birth
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Myocardial Infarction / surgery*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / surgery*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / etiology
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome