title: Morbidity and outcome after mechanical ventricular support using Thoratec, Novacor, and HeartMate for bridging to heart transplantation.
abstract: Between September 1989 and June 1999, 228 patients were supported with a ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplantation. In this study, the results of implantation were evaluated in patients supported with one type of device, including 85 supported with a Thoratec, 61 with a Novacor, and 37 with a HeartMate. The mean support time was 49, 148, and 124 days, respectively. Successful transplantation and weaning rates were 64. 7% with Thoratec, 59.0% with Novacor, and 62.0% with HeartMate. Cerebral embolism and drive-line and pocket infection were major causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality. We recommended that a Thoratec system be employed as a bridge to heart transplantation for patients with biventricular heart failure, and that a Novacor or HeartMate system be implanted in patients requiring a long-term circulatory support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center North-Rhine-Westphalia Bad Oeynhausen, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Banayosy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sezai
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arusoglu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarnowsky
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koerfer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome