ISSN: 2155-9880
Maxime Robert-Halabi, Samah Al Kharji, Sebastian-Mihail Georgescu, Renzo Cecere, Nadia Giannetti and Gordan Samoukovic
Giant Cell Myocarditis (GCM) is a form of fulminant cardiomyopathy caused by a lymphocytic inflammatory response. Prompt diagnosis, hemodynamic stabilization and initiation of therapy are essential steps in the management of this disease. We report a case of fulminant GCM in which rapid implementation of Venous-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and subsequent addition of a percutaneous biventricular mechanical support with an Impella LP 5.0 (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) and a PROTEK Duo (TandemLife, Pittsburgh, PA) while administering immunosuppressants improved the patient clinical status as well biventricular cardiac function. We concluded that the addition of modern percutaneous biventricular supports to VA-ECMO is important to promote cardiac function recovery by offloading the ventricles and we provided a treatment algorithm incorporating mechanical support in the management of these patients.