Anesthetic management for withdrawal from a right ventricular assist device and Fontan procedure in a patient with an implantable left ventricular assist device for fulminant cardiomyopathy.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We herein report the anesthetic management for extracardiac conduit-total cavopulmonary connection (EC-TCPC) for weaning from an extracorporeal right ventricular assist device (RVAD) in a patient with an implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for fulminant cardiomyopathy. CASE PRESENTATION A 24-year-old man developed fulminant cardiomyopathy and was placed on a biventricular assist device (BiVAD) comprising an implantable LVAD and an extracorporeal RVAD. The Fontan procedure was performed to wean the patient from the RVAD and allow him to be discharged home. Atrial septal defect creation, right ventricular suture, and tricuspid valve closure were then simultaneously performed to ensure sufficient left ventricular preload to drive the LVAD. Furthermore, to keep the central venous pressure lower, the inflow cannula of the LVAD was oriented in the correct direction. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of anesthetic management of the Fontan procedure in a patient with a BiVAD.