The Road to Heart Transplant in a Patient With Cardiomyopathy, Shone Complex, and Severe Pulmonary Hypertension.

Our case report details the journey of a 16-year-old male patient with Shone complex and advanced heart failure. We highlight the pivotal role of the HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device (Medtronic) implantation in mitigating severe pulmonary hypertension, thereby facilitating his eligibility for a heart transplant. We discuss the subsequent management of post-transplant pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction using targeted pulmonary vasodilators and inotropic support, underscoring the intricacies of postoperative care in pediatric heart transplant patients. This case emphasizes our observation of the critical role that left ventricular assist devices play in redefining transplant candidacy and the necessity for complex, ongoing management in pediatric heart transplant scenarios.
Competing Interests: The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.
(© 2024 The Authors.)