CPR, ECLS, BVAD and successful heart transplantation within 2 months: a single-centre case series in two young, high-urgency listed patients.

INTRODUCTION: In times of organ shortage, death while on the heart waiting-list still represents a major problem. As a consequence, bridging to transplant as well as the decision when to escalate therapy play a very important role.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We report on two young patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and acute decompensation who were successfully bridged to heart transplantation with both left and temporary right ventricular assist devices in just 2 months.

CONCLUSIONS: As a permanent biventricular assist device (BVAD) would have definitely impaired the patients' outcome after HTX, we decided to implant an LVAD with a temporary RVAD. In our opinion, this represents a suitable strategy to reduce mortality in HU-listed patients with acute deterioration of cardiac pump function and should be further evaluated in future studies.