Mechanical support of the failing heart.

Mechanical ventricular assist with a centrifugal pump with or without anticoagulation for an extended period has been used in 41 patients with postcardiotomy ventricular failure. Left ventricular, right ventricular, and biventricular assist were required. The efficacy and safety of mechanical ventricular assist have been documented. Marked improvement in survival has been observed in the more recent part of this series, and is attributed to earlier employment of the assist device, maintenance of better flow rates near physiological levels, and use of biventricular assist to provide effective circulatory support. Mechanical ventricular assist is easy to use, and the conversion from ordinary cardiopulmonary bypass is also easy. Therefore, mechanical assist provides a very effective means of temporary circulatory assist.