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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997; 45(3): 127-130
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1013703
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Long-Term Mechanical Circulatory Support

A. El-Banayosy, K. Minami, L. Arusoglu, O. Fey, L. Kizner, D. Hartmann, H. Körtke, M. M. Körner, G. Kleikamp, R. Körfer
  • Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center North Rhine-Westphalia, Ruhr University of Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
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Publication History

1996

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Against the background of an increasing number of patients waiting for heart transplantation but a stagnating number of transplant procedures, long-term mechanical circulatory support is gaining major importance. We investigated the outcome of 20 patients (15 men, and 5 women, aged between 15 and 66 years) each supported for more than 100 days between September 1987 and August 1996. The indications for implantation were bridging in 17 patients, myocarditis in 2 patients, and postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock in one patient. 12 patients received the Novacor LVAD, 4 patients the Thoratec System, 3 patients the HeartMate device and one patient both Novacor and Thoratec. Mean duration of support was 178.1 days. 15 patients were transplanted, 14 of them could be discharged. 2 patients died, 4 patients are still waiting. The most frequent complication was device-related infection in 11 patients. The results have shown that all three systems are safe and reliable devices for supporting patients for more than 100 days.

Key words

Heart-assist devices - Heart transplantation - Postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock

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