PATIENT HISTORY AND FINDINGS: A 37-year-old woman was admitted in cardiogenic shock and multiorgan failure. On echocardiography, left ventricular function was reduced, at that time, to 35%. The patient had been suffering from a cold for 1 week prior to admission. Within 24 h, left ventricular function dramatically decreased to 7%. Examinations included left-and right-heart catheter evaluation with removal of right ventricular biopsies. Histology and molecular pathology revealed the diagnosis of an enteroviral myocarditis.
Therapy: Imminently, a biventricular assist device (BVAD -Berlin Heart) was implanted.
Postoperative course: Postoperatively, only low-dose inotropic support was required. Under the requested anticoagulation, recurrent bleeding necessitated three rethoracotomies. Both renal and liver function normalized over time. On postoperative day 25, the BVAD was explanted without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Global ventricular function had normalized. The implantation of BVAD proved to be an efficient rescue therapy.