Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiogenic shock due to alcoholic cardiomyopathy: a long-term follow-up of 4 cases

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2018 Apr 1;26(4):703-705. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivx388.

Abstract

Even though alcoholism is a major health concern, alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a little-known pathology. The exact prevalence remains elusive (20-40% of dilated cardiomyopathy). However, it can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure and refractory cardiogenic shock. The literature on cardiogenic shock in alcoholic cardiomyopathy is limited. We report 4 cases of patients with refractory cardiogenic shock due to heavy alcohol consumption, who were treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The evolution was favourable with recovery in 3 patients and the need for heart transplantation in 1 patient. After 3-5 years, all patients are alive, 2 of 4 are sober, all of them are on cardiac follow-up and none of them have presented with a cardiac relapse.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / complications*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / diagnosis
  • Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / surgery
  • Echocardiography
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / methods*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / etiology
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / surgery*
  • Young Adult