Abstract

This case review presents an example of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and end-stage heart failure. We demonstrate the usage of VA-ECMO during a high-risk procedure to ensure adequate tissue perfusion and using an implantable LVAD device as a treatment option for end-stage heart failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy is often progressive in severity, which greatly affects the patients’ daily activities. Accompanying heart failure is most often treated conservatively. Although heart transplantation remains the definitive treatment for end-stage heart failure, advances in implantable LVAD technology have significantly increased the number of patients eligible for LVAD treatment and have created an alternative for patients for whom heart transplantation is unavailable. Using LVAD may greatly reduce the symptoms of heart failure and possibly increase the quality of life of the patient.