Percutaneous right ventricular assist device as support for cardiogenic shock due to right ventricular infarction.

Right ventricular myocardial infarction can lead to cardiogenic shock and death. We report on a patient with a right coronary artery infarction and right ventricular cardiogenic shock with only minimal left ventricular involvement who, after failing usual therapies, underwent insertion of a TandemHeart (Cardiac Assist, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) peripheral right ventricular assist device. The device was used for 48 hours to allow for recovery of right ventricular function and was then removed. The patient was discharged on hospital day 17 and was doing well at 6-month follow up.