Compelling Argument for an Agitated Saline Bubble Study Prior to Cardiac Transplantation |
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Authors: | Nishant Kalra M.D. Orazio L. Amabile M.D. Jack G. Copeland M.D. Vincent L. Sorrell M.D. F.A.C.C. F.A.S.E. |
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Affiliation: | Sarver Heart Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona |
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Abstract: | Abstract Cardiac transplant recipients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) are at risk for right-to-left shunting. Failure to identify this abnormality can have serious posttransplant consequences. In this article, we describe a cardiac transplant recipient with hypoxemia where a PFO was diagnosed postoperatively despite direct surgical investigation at the time of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Transthoracic echocardiography with bubble study is relatively inexpensive, noninvasive, and simple and can be a useful method to identify PFO/atrial septal defect. Thus, authors recommend critically screening both donor and recipient hearts prior to OHT. |
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