A Second Chance at Life, the Profound Echo of a Heartbeat: Hope with LVAD, Rebirth Through Heart Transplantation – Case Report
İrem Çilek1
, Hatice Yıldırım Sarı1, Mustafa Özbaran2, Aslı Sarp2
1Izmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü/Hemşirelik, İzmir, Türkiye
2Ege Üniversitesi Hastanesi (Sağlık Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi), Kalp Damar Cerrahisi Yoğun Bakım Ünitesi, İzmir, Türkiye
Keywords: heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device
Abstract
This case addresses the nursing care process of a 19-year-old male patient who was bridged to heart transplantation with a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) due to end-stage heart failure and subsequently underwent a successful heart transplant. The patient, followed long-term with a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP), was evaluated using Gordon's Functional Health Patterns (FHP) Model. The early postoperative intensive care process (first 24 hours) after LVAD explantation/heart transplantation is described, including vital signs, fluid balance, mechanical ventilation support, inotropic/vasopressor therapy, and immunosuppressive regimens. Using Gordon's 11 functional health patterns, the patient's bio-psycho-social and spiritual needs were assessed, potential and actual nursing diagnoses were identified, and care interventions were planned.
Cite this article as: Çilek İ, Yıldırım Sarı H, Özbaran M, Sarp A. A second chance at life, the profound echo of a heartbeat: hope with LVAD, rebirth through heart transplantation – case report. Pediatr Acad Case Rep. 2026;5(3):87-91.
The patient's consent was obtained for this study.
Concept: İÇ,HYS; design: İÇ,HYS; supervision: HYS,MÖ; materials: MÖ,AS; data collection and/or processing: İÇ,AS; analysis and interpretation: İÇ,HYS; literature review: İÇ; writing manuscript: İÇ,HYS; critical reviews: MÖ. All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript and discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.