# Cardiac Contractility Modulation as bridge to recovery in a patient with advanced heart failure evaluated for left ventricular assist devices: a case report and review of literature

## TL;DR

A patient with advanced heart failure improved significantly with Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM), avoiding the need for a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

## Contribution

This case report demonstrates CCM as a potential bridge to recovery for advanced heart failure patients, reducing the need for LVAD.

## Key findings

- The patient improved to NYHA class II with no acute heart failure episodes after CCM.
- CCM allowed the patient to no longer qualify as an LVAD candidate.
- CCM has favorable implantation, recovery, and risk profile for advanced HFrEF patients.

## Abstract

This case report illustrates the effects of CCM as a bridge to recovery in a patient who has been a candidate for LVAD. After CCM the patient hase become stable in NYHA class II, with no further acute HF episodes and a significant clinical and functional improvements. Consequently, the patient was no longer an LVAD candidate, as CCM had acted as a bridge to recovery, making the advanced HF designation no longer applicable. The ease of implantation, uneventful procedural recovery, extraordinary device longevity, and favorable risk profile all position CCM as an important tool in the treatment of advanced HFrEF patients candidate to LVAD therapy, serving as a bridge to recovery.Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the long-term benefits of CCM therapy in this particular population subgroup, helping a better patient selection.