Subcutaneous implantation of a new intravenous pump system for prostacyclin treatment in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Intravenous prostacyclin treatment is a well recognized option in patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and remains the gold standard of treatment. However, intravenous prostacyclin treatment involves several limitations, because the available battery-driven pump systems carry the risk of line infections, catheter-related embolisms, thrombosis, and delivery system malfunctions.
Case Report: We report for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, on the safe transition procedure from subcutaneous to intravenous treprostinil in a 74-year-old woman suffering from severe PAH (New York Heart Association functional class III), using a new implantable, gas-driven, intravenous pump device (LenusPro, Tricumed/OMT, Frittlingen, Germany).
Conclusions: This implantable pump system may overcome the well-known limitations and risks of commonly used delivery systems, and thus may provide a new option for continuous intravenous prostacyclin treatment in patients with PAH.
(Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)