title: Temporary assist device for postcardiotomy cardiac failure.
abstract: Postcardiotomy left ventricular failure (LVF) complicating a cardiac surgical procedure is usually managed with intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation. We report two cases of postcardiotomy LVF unresponsive to inotropic support and IABP counterpulsation that were managed successfully with the use of the TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) (CardiacAssist, Pittsburgh, PA). The TandemHeart pVAD appears to be safe and effective as a bridge to recovery in the treatment of postcardiotomy cardiac failure.
authors.affiliation: Thessaloniki Heart Institute, St. Luke's Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonis A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pitsis
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dardas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mezilis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikoloudakis
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filippatos
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burkhoff
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000628:therapy*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged