HEART TRANSPLANTATION FOR FULMINANT MYOCARDITIS AFTER PROLONGED ECMO

During the last decade an increasing number of reported cases with ECMO application, was described as a << bridge >> to heart transplantation ( HTx). Herein we present a case with successful long-term E.MO application with further HTx in a 24 y.o patient. Three years after the atrial septal defect plasty the patient developed acute myocarditis, and was connected to ECMO. The total duration of epy observation was 24 days. After switching off -the ejection fraction was less than 20%, the 6-minute walking test was less than 150 meters, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was 65 mm. In 28 days we successfully performed HTx according to bicaval method. The patient was discharged on the 30th day after HTx. His total hospital stay was 114 days. Conclusion: ECMO as a << bridge >> to HTx can be successfully applied as a short-term circulatory support.