ORTHOTOPIC HEART-TRANSPLANTATION FOR DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN A PATIENT WITH PERSISTENT LEFT SUPERIOR VENA-CAVA AND ATRESIA OF THE RIGHT SUPERIOR VENA-CAVA

Objective. To describe the surgical procedure of an orthotopic heart t ransplantation in a recipient with persistent left superior vena cava and atresia of right superior vena cava. Experimental design. Case rep ort. Patient. A 43 year old male with persistent left superior vena ca va, atresia of the right superior vena cava and dilated cardiomyopathy . Interventions. Orthotopic heart transplantation with selective cannu lation of the left superior vena cava via recipient coronary sinus for cardiopulmonary bypass. Results. No perioperative complications, sati sfactory postoperative course. No rejection episodes at 7 months posto perative with non invasive procedure surveillance. Conclusion. Techniq ue described to preserve left superior vena cava is a useful alternati ve for this patient with no surgical complications.