First successful Italian clinical experience with DeBakey VAD.
The growing number of patients waiting for heart transplantation more than tripled between 1989 and 1998. Various non-pulsatile mechanical circulatory support devices have been developed as bridge to heart transplantation in recent years. We report the first successful Italian clinical experience with an axial-flow pump, DeBakey VAD, in a patient supported as bridge to transplantation for 55 days.
Agati
S
S
Cardiac Surgery Department "Angelo De Gasperis," Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy. sasha.agati@tiscalinet.it
Bruschi
G
G
Russo
C
C
Colombo
T
T
Lanfranconi
M
M
Vitali
E
E
D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006400:Hematocrit; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006452:Hemoglobinometry; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014850:Waiting Lists