ABSTRACT Introduction: Combined solid organ transplantation is infrequently performed in Brazil. The objective of this article is to present our initial experience with combined heart and kidney transplantation. Methods: From January 2007 to December 2019, four patients were submitted to combined heart and kidney transplantation. Their mean age was 55.7±4.4 years, and three (75%) patients were males. All patients had Chagas cardiomyopathy, two were hospitalized and inotrope dependent, and all patients were on preoperative dialysis (median of 12 months prior to transplant). Results: All patients survived and were in New York Heart Association functional class I at the latest follow-up (mean 34.7±17.5 months). Mean retarded kidney graft function was 22.9±9.7 days. One patient lost the kidney graft two years after the transplant due to Polyomavirus infection. Conclusion: Our initial experience of combined heart and kidney transplantation was favorable in selected patients with advanced heart failure and end-stage kidney disease. It requires involvement of a dedicated multispecialty team throughout all the diagnostics and treatment steps.

Fundamento:A disfunção primária de enxerto é a principal causa de mortalidade precoce após o transplante cardíaco. O uso de assistência circulatória mecânica tem sido empregado no tratamento dessa síndrome.Objetivo:Descrever a experiência com o uso de oxigenação por membrana extracorpórea para tratamento de disfunção primária de enxerto pós-transplante cardíaco.Métodos:Entre janeiro de 2007 e dezembro de 2013, foram realizados 71 transplantes cardíacos ortotópicos em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca avançada. Destes, 11 (15,5%) pacientes apresentaram disfunção primária de enxerto, os quais constituíram a população deste estudo. As manifestações da disfunção primária de enxerto na nossa população foram falência no desmame da circulação extracorpórea em seis (54,5%) pacientes, instabilidade hemodinâmica grave no pós-operatório imediato com disfunção cardíaca acentuada em três (27,3%) e pós-parada cardíaca em dois (18,2%). O tempo de isquemia médio foi 151 ± 82 minutos. Assim que o diagnóstico de disfunção primária de enxerto foi estabelecido, procedeu-se à instalação de suporte circulatório mecânico para estabilização de quadro hemodinâmico grave, e a evolução dos pacientes foi estudada temporalmente.Resultados:A duração média de assistência em oxigenação por membrana extracorpórea foi 76 ± 47,4 horas (variação de 32 a 144 horas). O desmame com recuperação cardíaca obteve sucesso em nove (81,8%) pacientes. No entanto, dois pacientes, que tiveram recuperação cardíaca, não sobreviveram à alta hospitalar.Conclusão:O uso de assistência circulatória mecânica por meio de oxigenação por membrana extracorpórea central promoveu recuperação cardíaca em poucos dias na maioria dos pacientes.

Background:Primary graft dysfunction is the main cause of early mortality after heart transplantation. Mechanical circulatory support has been used to treat this syndrome.Objective:Describe the experience with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to treat post-transplant primary cardiac graft dysfunction.Methods:Between January 2007 and December 2013, a total of 71 orthotopic heart transplantations were performed in patients with advanced heart failure. Eleven (15.5%) of these patients who presented primary graft dysfunction constituted the population of this study. Primary graft dysfunction manifested in our population as failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass in six (54.5%) patients, severe hemodynamic instability in the immediate postoperative period with severe cardiac dysfunction in three (27.3%), and cardiac arrest (18.2%). The average ischemia time was 151 ± 82 minutes. Once the diagnosis of primary graft dysfunction was established, we installed a mechanical circulatory support to stabilize the severe hemodynamic condition of the patients and followed their progression longitudinally.Results:The average duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was 76 ± 47.4 hours (range 32 to 144 hours). Weaning with cardiac recovery was successful in nine (81.8%) patients. However, two patients who presented cardiac recovery did not survive to hospital discharge.Conclusion:Mechanical circulatory support with central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation promoted cardiac recovery within a few days in most patients.