Acute right ventricular failure following heart transplantation: improvement with prostaglandin E1 and right ventricular assist.

Development of significant pulmonary hypertension following orthotopic heart transplantation can result in death caused by irreversible right ventricular failure. Despite determination of acceptable preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance, this complication may still occur. This report illustrates the technique of right ventricular assist and concomitant infusion of intrapulmonary prostaglandin E1 for the treatment of postoperative right ventricular failure resulting from pulmonary hypertension.