Permanent mechanical circulatory support with an implantable left ventricular assist device.

A 67-year-old man had end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy. He had had two previous coronary bypass operations and a previous left ventricular aneurysmectomy. In December 1995 he underwent vented-electric HeartMate LVAD insertion as an alternative to transplantation. He was discharged from the hospital 13 days after the operation, and 5 months postoperatively he had returned to New York Heart Association functional class II.