Left ventricular bypass using a cardiac allograft: hemodynamic studies.

Human allograft bypass of the failing left ventricle is an efficient and practical way of effecting short-term improvement in the overall hemodynamic status of patients. It is suggested that controlled sequential pacing of the donor heart would improve the overall hemodynamic result and better preserve function of the bypassed ventricle. Simultaneous bypass of the right ventricle might prevent the acute right heart failure seen during serious ventricular arrhythmias occurring in the recipient heart. Future indications for the technique in modified form could include severe biventricular failure and acute reversible forms of heart failure.