Successful treatment of fulminant myocarditis in a 7 year old with a left ventricular assist device

Abstract

We present a case of a 7-year-old, 20-kg male child, admitted in our Center with a diagnosis of fulminant myocarditis with a large pericardial effusion and severe hemodynamic instability. Due to failure of medical therapy, a left ventricular assistant device (LVAD) was implanted. After 4 days, the patient was successfully weaned from mechanical support. Myocardial biopsy showed evidence of acute viral myocarditis. Our experience suggests that the left ventricular assist device therapy might offer circulatory support in pediatric cases of fulminant myocarditis.

Keywords: fulminant myocarditis; mechanical circulatory support; heart failure

(Published: 25 March 2011)

Citation: Mechanical Circulatory Support 2011, 2: 5762 - DOI: 10.3402/mcs.v2i0.5762