[Mechanical cardiac support--the first use in Czech Republic].
BACKGROUND
Implantation of mechanical assist device is widely accepted modality of treatment of patients with refractory heart failure. In the present study we evaluated our first one-year experiences with this method for bridging patients to cardiac transplantation.


RESULTS
Between April 2003 and May 2004, the Thoratec VAD (Thoratec, Pleasanton, CA, USA) was implanted in 6 patients ( males; age 28-61 years) as a bridge-to-transplant procedure after having received maximum inotropic support and who were at imminent risk of death. In all patients was performed VAD as biventricular device (BiVAD). During a week after placement was observed recovery of organs function in all patients. Five patients survived to heart transplantation. One patient died 21 days after BiVAD placement due to massive bleeding to the respiratory tract. In post-transplantation period 1 patient died second day from acute graft failure and other patient died 34 days after from intracranial bleeding. Three patients has been discharged from the hospital and they are surviving more than I year.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of our first experiences with the Thoratec BiVAD implantation as bridging to heart transplantation suggests that it is well suited method with respect to long- term prognosis of this group of patients.
Kettner
J
J
Klinika kardiologie IKEM, Praha. jiri.kettner@medicon.cz
Pirk
J
J
Netuka
I
I
Brezina
A
A
Ríha
H
H
Malý
J
J
Masín
J
J
D000328:Adult; D018153:Czech Republic; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged