MECHANICAL VENTRICULAR ASSISTANCE FOR THE FAILING RIGHT VENTRICLE AFTER CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION

Right ventricular failure secondary to elevated pulmonary vascular res istance (PVR) following orthotopic cardiac transplant is a complicatio n with a high mortality; and patients with high resistance are often n ot accepted on transplant waiting lists. We describe six cases of righ t ventricular failure after cardiac transplant managed by right ventri cular assist device (RVAD), four of whom died and two patients who sur vived following life-threatening complications.