Less invasive surgical and perfusion technique for implantation of the Jarvik 2000 left ventricular assist device.

Left ventricular assist device implantation might require extensive surgical incision and use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Less invasive implantation using smaller incision and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation perfusion in critically ill patients can decrease the rate of complications. One patient with cardiomyopathy received the Jarvik 2000 FlowMaker through an upper T-inverted ministernotomy and left minithoracotomy. The outflow-graft was connected to the ascending aorta, and the Jarvik 2000 was inserted through the apex of the left ventricle on beating heart. The power cable was routed percutaneously through the neck to a retroauricular skull-mounted pedestal.