The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 52, 308-309, Copyright © 1991 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Long-term bridge to transplantation with the Symbion acute ventricular assist device system
S Lick, JG Copeland, LJ Rosado, G Sethi, RG Smith and M Cleavinger
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson.
A 48-year-old man was supported for 164 days with Symbion biventricular
assist devices. During that time, his cytotoxic antibody screen fell from
97% positivity to less than 10%, enabling cardiac transplantation.
Complications during the implantation included a 3-minute episode of
amaurosis fugax, one positive blood culture, and anemia, which responded to
decreased frequency of blood drawing. He is now alive 7 months after
transplantation.