New experience with the paracardial right ventricular axial flow micropump impella elect 600.

Beating heart surgery is still challenging and could be made safer using assisted circulation. We evaluated clinical outcome following beating heart myocardial revascularisation using the impella elect system with intracardial left ventricular (LV) and paracardial right ventricular (RV) microaxial pumps in eight patients. Clinical course was uneventful. There were no device-related complications. The paracardial design of the RV-pump is a great advantage compared to the former intracardial design because it eliminates arrhythmia and LV hypovolemia. Support by microaxial pumps can make beating heart surgery safer and applicable for more complex cases.