Abstract
This 64-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent cardiac transplantation. The recipient's native heart (N) was left in place. The heterotopic donor heart (D) functions as a biologic left ventricular assist device.
A 64-year-old man presented with progressive shortness of breath and exercise intolerance due to end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy. Since he remained severely symptomatic despite maximal medical therapy, he underwent a heterotopic cardiac transplantation. Because of the presence of severe pulmonary hypertension, the recipient's native heart (N) was left in place and the allograft was implanted in the right chest. The native heart maintains right circulation in spite of chronic pulmonary hypertension, while the heterotopic donor heart (D) functions as a biologic left ventricular assist device. The post-transplantation electrocardiogram shows two QRS complexes with different axes (Panel A). The allograft can be . . .
