title: [Mechanical methods of treating refractory cardiac failure].
abstract: Mechanical means tend to be used more frequently nowadays for the treatment of congestive heart failure which does not respond to more normal treatment. The indications and limits of such devices, as well as their cost, must be defined. The new problem created by these therapeutic tools is the evolution of the underlying cardiac disease: should it improve the patient will be weaned from the machine, whereas if it worsens heart transplantation would be the only answer. Three types of mechanical support are described. Balloon pumping, and especially intra-aortic balloon pumping, is the technique used most often. It has a true but limited efficacy. Its best indication is cardiogenic shock by left ventricular ischaemia with normal or slightly increased peripheral resistances. Intrapulmonary balloon pumping is occasionally used, but the system can only be set up surgically. Its best indication would seem to be right-sided heart failure by pulmonary hypertension. Circulatory assistance is the second type considered. All types of bypass pumps can be used. The output used is usually less than the patient's theoretical output, the aim being to allow the myocardium to recover. Vascular access for these pumps is either femoral or intrathoracic. An oxygenator may or may not be added to the bypass circuit, and support may be mono- or biventricular. Although the non pulsatile flow has not been shown to be detrimental, this has to be investigated further. The use of these devices is limited by their effects on blood coagulation and pulmonary function. The artificial heart or artificial ventricles are the last devices described.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Cardiovasculaire, Hôpital Broussais, Paris.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dreyfus
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D006355:Heart-Lung Machine; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy
vernacular_title: Moyens mécaniques de traitement de l'insuffisance cardiaque réfractaire.