Caval Stenosis After Bicaval Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: Routine Transesophageal Echocardiography Assessment of the Caval Anastomoses May Avert This Complication

Orthotopic heart transplantation performed with the bicaval technique is common in contemporary cardiac surgery and has essentially supplanted the biatrial approach. The bicaval approach is preferred because it avoids complications associated with the traditional biatrial technique, such as atrial conduction abnormalities, donor-recipient right atrial systolic dyssynchrony, and tricuspid and mitral regurgitation.1 The bicaval technique, however, can cause caval stenosis at the cannulation and anastomotic sites of the superior and inferior vena cava.

Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - August 11, 2019 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Michael Essandoh, Bryan A. Whitson Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research