Successful Surgical Treatment Of Terminal Heart Failure In An Adolescent - Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation And Subsequent Heart Transplantation

Introduction Implantation of the new-generation left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is an efficient therapeutic option as a bridge to transplantation in adults, as well as in children and adolescents with small body surface.The aim of this work was to present a case of a successful surgical treatment of terminal heart failure in a male adolescent who had an LVAD implanted as a bridge to heart transplantation.Case outline The patient, a 17-year-old male, was admitted with the end-stage heart failure due to the dilated cardiomyopathy and implanted LVAD. Fourteen months after LVAD implantation, a successful "second stage" surgical procedure was performed - orthotopic heart transplantation preceded by the LVAD explantation.Conclusion Long-term mechanical circulatory support is an effective and safe method in treatment of the end-stage heart failure as a bridge to transplantation in the adolescent period.