Simultaneous minimally invasive LVAD implantation and extracorporeal RVAD placement by patient with pectus excavatum and biventricular acute heart failure.

ABSTRACT

The optimal surgical approach in patients with pectus excavatum (PEx) who need cardiac surgery remains uncertain. The challenge is even greater, if it is already foreseeable that the patient will be needed further procedure in the next future. We describe a novel sternotomy-sparing approach for minimal-invasive biventricular assist device (BiVAD) implantation in a patient with an acute heart failure (HF) due to dilated cardiomyopathy and severe PEx. Moreover, alternative approaches for ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation and timing of the repair of PEx will be discussed.