RIGHT LATISSIMUS-DORSI CARDIOMYOPLASTY IN DIAPHRAGM EVENTRATION AND CARDIAC MALPOSITION

Cardiomyoplasty recently has been introduced as a surgical therapy for long-lasting cardiac dysfunction in selected patients. We report the case of a patient affected by chronic heart failure, unresponsive to m aximal medical therapy, with concomitant posttraumatic injury of the l eft phrenic nerve, left diaphragm eventration, and cardiac malposition (right displacement). In view of the progressive deterioration of the cardiac function, cardiomyoplasty was recommended, and the right lati ssimus dorsi muscle was used to perform the wrapping procedure. A 6-mo nth follow-up showed significant functional, as well as hemodynamic, i mprovements in addition to a reduction in medical therapy.