title: Biventricular support with the Jarvik 2000 axial flow pump: a feasibility study.
abstract: Patients with congestive heart failure who are supported with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may experience right ventricular dysfunction or failure that requires support with a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). To determine the feasibility of using a clinically available axial flow ventricular assist device as an RVAD, we implanted Jarvik 2000 pumps in the left ventricle and right atrium of two Corriente crossbred calves (approximately 100 kg each) by way of a left thoracotomy and then analyzed the hemodynamic effects in the mechanically fibrillated heart at various LVAD and RVAD speeds. Right atrial implantation of the device required no modification of either the device or the surgical technique used for left ventricular implantation. Satisfactory biventricular support was achieved during fibrillation as evidenced by an increase in mean aortic pressure from 34 mm Hg with the pumps off to 78 mm Hg with the pumps generating a flow rate of 4.8 L/min. These results indicate that the Jarvik 2000 pump, which can provide chronic circulatory support and can be powered by external batteries, is a feasible option for right ventricular support after LVAD implantation and is capable of completely supporting the circulation in patients with global heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Cardiopulmonary Transplantation Service and Cullen Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, PO Box 20345, Houston, TX 77225-0345, USA.
authors.forename: Branislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Radovancevic
authors.forename: Igor D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Gregoric
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tamez
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vrtovec
authors.forename: Egemen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tuzun
authors.forename: Hyun Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jarvik
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Frazier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002417:Cattle; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D014025:Titanium; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium