Abstract
A 7-month-old male infant with a diagnosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy exhibited poor response to anti-heart failure medication. Following diagnosis, the infant underwent pulmonary artery banding, which has been reported to be effective in restoring heart function. Although we initially aimed to transition the patient to home care, we observed a slow deterioration of his heart. As a result, the infant remained hospitalized for 14 months thereafter, and underwent Excor® implantation. At the time of writing, he is waiting for heart transplantation. In this case, the ineffectiveness of pulmonary artery banding may be partially attributable to the development of right ventricular dysfunction following pulmonary artery banding. Provided that the criteria for patient selection and optimal tightness of the band are established, pulmonary artery banding can be a treatment option for infants with severe heart failure. Thus, pulmonary artery banding can help to alleviate the caregivers’ burden, mitigate health care costs, and equalize medical care nationwide.
